As the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day amid uproar over Karnataka crisis, Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta from the BJP cheekily remarked that Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs disrupted proceedings to watch the India-New Zealand semi-final.
Taking to Twitter after uproar over developments in Karnataka stalled proceedings in the Rajya Sabha, Swapan Dasgupta said, "I am convinced that the Congress and TMC disrupted the Rajya Sabha and had it adjourned for the day because they wanted to watch the cricket. No other explanation in sight."
I am convinced that the Congress and TMC disrupted the Rajya Sabha and had it adjourned for the day because they wanted to watch the cricket. No other explanation in sight.
Swapan Dasgupta (@swapan55) July 9, 2019
India took on New Zealand in the first semi-final of the World Cup 2019 on Tuesday.
The uproar by the opposition Congress over developments in Karnataka stalled proceedings in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, with practically no business being conducted in the House.
Congress members stormed into the well raising slogans against the ruling BJP at the Centre, which it has blamed for instigating a rebellion within the Congress-JD (S) government in Karnataka.
Congress members were shouting slogans saying democracy was being killed in reference to developments in Karnataka.
TMC members too trooped into the well in protest against the privatisation of public sector units, forcing Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn proceedings till noon.
When the House re-assembled to take up the Question Hour, there were almost similar scenes with slogan-shouting Congress and TMC members trooping in the well.
Deputy Chairman Harivansh, who was chairing the proceedings, made repeated efforts to persuade protesting members to return to their seats so that the Question Hour could be conducted.
However, his appeals went unheeded and the House was adjourned till 2 pm.
Before adjourning the House till 2 pm, he told protesting Congress members that the chairman had allowed them to raise the Karnataka issue during the Zero Hour, but it was not availed.
The year-old Congress-Janata Dal (S) coalition government in Karnataka is on the brink of collapse after a spate of resignations by MLAs.
Earlier during the Zero Hour, Naidu said he had received a notice under rule 267 from Congress member BK Hariprasad, seeking suspension of the listed business to take up the Karnataka issue.
"I am not allowing it," he said, prompting Congress members to rush to the well shouting slogans.
TMC members trooped into the well but the issue they were raising could not be heard.