The Rajya Sabha was adjourned in the pre-lunch session on Monday after Samajwadi Party (SP) and Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) members raised a din over alleged fake encounters in Uttar Pradesh and sealing drive in the national Capital respectively. Irked over slogan shouting by these members who rushed into the well of the House, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu adjourned the House shortly after it met for the day and Zero Hour commenced.
Before adjourning the proceedings till after 2 pm, Naidu tried to pacify the agitated members and remarked, “Let us not have an encounter of the Zero Hour.” He also tried to reason with SP and AAP members and asked them to let the Zero Hour and Question Hour run. However, they were in no mood to relent.
The proceedings began at 1100 hours and Naresh Agrawal(SP) raised the issue of a spate of alleged fake encounters in UP. Naidu did not allow the SP leader’s notice to suspend the business of the day to discuss the issue and asked him to put up matter in a different manner. Agrawal, however, continued to speak and his party colleagues rushed into the well of the house raising slogans. AAP members also joined SP and shouted slogans against the Government over the sealing drive matter.
Congress member K Ramachandra Rao too came into the Well holding a banner that read “Do Justice to Andhra Pradesh” in protest against the State not finding a mention in the Union Budget for 2018-19 presented last week.
Amid the din, Derek O’Brien (Trinamool Congress) rose to make his Zero Hour submission but nothing could be heard due to pandemonium. An upset Naidu remarked that the members were determined not to allow the proceedings and wanted to create trouble to get publicity. He then adjourned the proceedings.