NEW DELHI: Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Monday saw disruption and repeated adjournments as the Congress demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the allegations levelled by him against his predecessor Manmohan Singh.
In the Lok Sabha, the first adjournment came minutes after the house met, as Congress members stood at their seats, and created a ruckus over the issue.
From the treasury benches — BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, who had the first question listed against his name, said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was headed for victory in both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. “...People have given a very good reply... Congress has lost Himachal Pradesh, and I want to thank the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) for the unprecedented victory in Gujarat,” he said. The Speaker then adjourned the house till noon, amid ruckus from both the ruling and opposition benches.
As the House met at noon, Congress members once again raised the issue of the Prime Minister’s allegations, but were denied permission by the Chair.
“You want to raise the same issue everyday... This is not done,” Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said.
Congress members also trooped to near the Speaker’s podium, raising slogans seeking an apology from Prime Minister Modi.
“We will not tolerate insult of the former Prime Minister,” they said.
Amid the ruckus, papers were laid on the table of the House and bills were introduced, after which Speaker Mahajan adjourned the House for the day. The script was the same in the Upper House. As the House met for the day, agitated Congress members trooped to the Chairman’s podium shouting slogans against Modi and the BJP after their notice to discuss the matter under Rule 267 was rejected.
Under the Rule 267, the House’s listed business is suspended to discuss full time the matter for which the notice is given.
“You cannot reject everything every day. What are we doing here then? The charges levelled against a former Prime Minister who held office for 10 years will have to be proved. They (BJP) are answerable to the people,” a miffed Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said. The Congress had also pressed the matter on Friday but their notices were rejected by Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien adjourned the House till 12 noon amid pandemonium.
But as soon as the House met again for Question Hour, the Congress MPs again raised the issue and asked Naidu to allow a discussion on the matter.
“Sir, you have to protect the members’ honour,” Congress leader Anand Sharma told the Chair.
As Naidu insisted on continuing with the Question Hour, the Congress MPs again came near the podium shouting slogans like “Pradhan Mantri maafi mango” (Prime Minister, apologise). Naidu then adjourned the House for the day. — IANS
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