Denied clarifications on Rajnath statement, Opposition stages walkout

NEW DELHI: Members of Congress and other opposition parties on Tuesday staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha after they were denied permission to seek clarifications on defence minister Rajnath Singh’s statement on the clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Tawang sector.
The protests by Congress and other opposition parties over Tawang clashes also plunged the Lok Sabha into chaos, forcing adjournment during the question hour. Congress MPs and other opposition members who were seeking a discussion and clarifications later walked out from the Lok Sabha.
As the house met, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi and DMK MP TR Baalu, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi raised the issue of border clashes.
The defence minister made his statement in both Houses of Parliament. After he spoke in the house of elders, RS deputy chairman Harivansh said since the matter was sensitive, no clarifications would be allowed. However, the opposition was unrelenting in its demand and chose to walkout. Members of CPI, CPI-M, Shiv Sena, RJD, SP and JMM joined in to stage a walkout.
Soon after the RS met for the day, opposition members raised slogans demanding a discussion on the China issue. The house was adjourned once and reassembled at 12. After the defence minister made his speech, the opposition members wanted to seek a number of clarifications.
The deputy chairman did not allow any clarifications saying, “Our armed forces are guarding our borders with full vigour and alertness. The entire House has faith and trust in their valour and bravery. This is a sensitive matter.
In Lok Sabha, Congress’s Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi and DMK MP TR Baalu, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi raised the issue. Seeking an explanation from the defence minister over the Tawang incident, opposition members created an uproar, alleging that they were not being allowed to speak. Speaker Om Birla’s pleas too fell on deaf ears, as Congress MPs insisted on the adjournment of the question hour and discussion on the clashes. Gogoi even demanded a statement by the PM. Birla then adjourned the proceedings.