Opposition protests fuel price hike for second day

In Lok Sabha, the protests were led by Congress, which, along with other parties, blocked the Question Hour and later walked out. A miffed Speaker Om Birla asked members to “stop the pre-planned stalling of the House”.

Rajya Sabha, meanwhile, was adjourned till 12 pm amid protests. Chairman Venkaiah Naidu denied a discussion on the fuel price hike, saying it was a general discussion for demands for grants.

Opposition MPs including those from the Congress, DMK, Left parties and TMC came to the Well of the Lok Sabha when it convened and raised slogans against the price hike.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was present at her front-row seat, was seen marshalling MPs from her party as well as other opposition parties.

On Tuesday, fuel prices were increased by 80 paise a litre in the first hike in 137 days. Liquified petroleum gas prices were increased by Rs 50 per cylinder. The LPG rate was last revised on October 6. The fuel prices were again increased on Wednesday by 80 paise a litre each.

When National Conference MP Hasnain Masoodi stood up from his seat to ask a supplementary question to the question listed against his name, Gandhi was seen instructing him to sit down — and he did. She also discouraged IUML MP E T Mohammad Basheer from raising a question. Observing the Congress leader’s move to stop Masood, Union Minister Piyush Goyal quipped that Gandhi’s party was always trying to block Kashmir from development.

After taking up the Question Hour amid the chaos, the Speaker at 11.25 am, asked the MPs to go back to their seats. He said he would give them a chance to speak during the Zero Hour. “You can raise the matter during Zero Hour. This is Question Hour and you are expected to raise questions on people’s issues during this time”

“This kind of pre-planned blocking of the house is not good and it is not in keeping with the dignity of this house. You should take your seat,” he said before adjourning the House till noon.

When the House met at noon, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wanted to raise the issue. The Speaker, however, did not allow him, saying the Opposition did not pay heed to his requests to let the Question Hour run.

Protesting against this, the Opposition MPs from Congress, DMK, Left parties and NCP walked out.

In Rajya Sabha, Opposition members carried placards and shouted slogans following which the house was adjourned for the second consecutive day.

“I have received notices under Rule 267… regarding the issue of prices of cooking gas, petroleum, diesel and kerosene and also other essential commodities like pulses and edible oils. I have considered it and I find that this is not an issue to be discussed under Rule 267. It is a general issue…It has to be discussed during the discussion on Demands for Grants,” Naidu said as Opposition members protested.

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said the issue was important.

Naidu responded: “Once the Chair has not admitted it… it is not admitted”