NEW DELHI : Despite attempts by the government to cool down the pitch over the issue of religious conversions, the Rajya Sabha could not function for the third day in a row this week with an adamant Opposition forcing three adjournments during Question Hour — the third time till 1400 hrs.
Earlier, the House was adjourned till noon during Zero Hour.
As soon as Question Hour began, the Opposition members were again on their feet demanding a discussion on the issue under Rule 267.
As Chairman Hamid Ansari pleaded for Question Hour to be allowed, Samajwadi Party member Naresh Agrawal demanded a look at Rule 267 with BJP members erupting in protest. The House was then adjourned for 15 minutes till 1218 hrs.
When the sitting resumed, the Chairman ruled that the notice given by the Opposition was “infructuous” as a short duration discussion over religious conversions was listed in the afternoon.
He asked the protesting members to allow the Question Hour to proceed.
During this exchange, Home Minister Rajnath Singh could be seen standing on his feet. But as the Congress members entered the well and the BJP members also raised slogans, the House was then adjourned for the third time for 15 minutes till 1236 hrs.
However, tempers had not improved when as the House resumed at 1236 hrs, the Chairman pronounced that the notice for discussion was infructuous.
At this, Sitaram Yechury, CPM, rose to demand the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a clarification during the discussion amid protests from the BJP benches. The Chairman then tried to assert that under Parliamentary democracy, the system of collective responsibility prevailed and the Home Minister should be permitted to speak.
To this Mr Yechury responded insisting that under the BJP’s “own division of responsibility the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister alone is responsible.” Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi’s statement on the availability of the Home Minister did not find favour with the Opposition with the House being adjourned till 1400 hrs in the din.
(AGENCIES)
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