The Rajya Sabha witnessed disruptions for the third day on Thursday by the Opposition Congress over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks against former PM Manmohan Singh and demand for an explanation from Mr. Modi on the false propaganda related to the 2G scam.
When the House met for the day, Congress MPs shouted slogans, drowning the voices of other members and forcing Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the proceedings till 2 p.m., but not before he threatened to invoke rules against them and rapped them for unruly behaviour.
Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Congress, since the past week, has been seeking an explanation from the Prime Minister over his “false” allegations against Dr. Singh during the Gujarat polls.
“We want a clarification from the PM. Where did all the allegations of ₹1,76,000 crore 2G scam go? Prove it here. The BJP ran a propaganda on the 2G spectrum scam that helped it move from that side (Opposition side in the Rajya Sabha) to this side (ruling side) and us from that side (ruling side) to this side (Opposition benches),” Mr. Azad said.
Mr. Naidu said he was not allowing Mr. Azad’s submission as he had not given any notice. He also cited a May 22, 1990 ruling of then Rajya Sabha Chairman Shankar Dayal Sharma that the Chair’s ruling on not allowing suspension of question hour or allowing a discussion was final.
But Congress members continued sloganeering and protests.
When some slogan-shouting Congress members moved in front of the ruling benches, Mr. Naidu castigated them for moving from the Opposition side to the Treasury side of the well.
‘Follow decorum’
After Mr. Azad’s intervention, the protesters left the well and returned to their seats but kept raising slogans, drowning the voices of members whom the Chair had called to raise zero hour issues.
Mr. Naidu rapped them for the unruly behaviour, saying, “3/4ths of the House want to take up zero hour issues...Please follow some decorum. I condemn your behaviour. I will have to think about invoking rules. Don’t force me to do that,” he said.
Normally, the Chair in case of disruptions in the first hour of the sitting, adjourns proceedings till noon. But when Mr. Naidu adjourned the proceedings till 2 p.m., members were surprised.
Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was also seen asking officials if the proceedings have indeed been adjourned till 2 pm.
The Lok Sabha functioned in the first half on Thursday amid protests.
(With PTI inputs)
