NEW DELHI, Dec 18:
Rajya Sabha failed to transact any business for the fourth straight day today as opposition kept demanding reply by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a debate on religious conversions which the Government ruled out.
The Prime Minister was present in the House during the Question Hour but this segment was consumed by arguments between the opposition and treasury benches over procedures of a debate on the communal incidents in the country.
Thursday is a day when questions related to the portfolios held by the Prime Minister are listed for reply.
Opposition and treasury benches traded charges of “arrogance” and accused each other of not being serious to have the debate which was listed, resulting in repeated clashes and uproar.
There was also disagreement on whether to use the words ‘attack on secular fabric’ in the name of the debate.
The House was adjourned repeatedly before the Chair finally called it a day at around 2.45 PM.
In the face of continued demand, Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the Government was ready to debate the issue immediately but asserted that Opposition cannot dictate who will reply from the government side and what will be the terms and conditions.
“In this very House the Prime Minister made a statement on request of opposition… Three days after the Prime Minister’s statement, the House was not allowed to function…I repeat Government’s (offer). If they want (discussion), let it start just now,” Jaitley said.
Ruling out a reply by the Prime Minister, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said as per the rules the Home Minister will reply after the debate as the issue relates to his ministry.
Amid the arguments and counter arguments, the House was adjourned for lunch break. When the House reassembled at 2 PM, the Prime Minister was not present, triggering protests from the opposition benches.
Demanding his presence, Opposition members like Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), however, argued that the ambit of the debate goes beyond the mandate of the Home Ministry and hence only the Prime Minister can reply.
He was supported by Deputy Leader of Congress Anand Sharma and other opposition members, including K C Tyagi (JD-U).
Soon after 2 PM, a motion moved by CPI-M member P Rajeev for starting the debate was adopted. Rajeev, however, insisted on presence of the Prime Minister.
Other opposition members joined and asserted that the House would not be allowed to function till the Prime Minister attends.
“If PM does not come, no discussion and no business will happen,” Sharma asserted.
Amid heated arguments, Opposition members shouted slogan, “No PM, No House”, while some Congress members trooped into the Well shouting “PM bulao, House chalao (Call PM, run the House)”.
Members of the treasury benches, on the other hand, were on their feet and kept shouting “Sharm karo Sharm karo (shame, shame)”.
Peeved at opposition’s attitude, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “You cannot dictate to the Government… We will give reply, but you start the discussion.”
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien then said, “As far as Chair is concerned, any minister’s reply is ok. Why don’t you start the discussion and meanwhile members can ask for the presence of the Prime Minister in the House.”
He also said that in the rule book, there is no provision for a mover of a motion to demand the presence of concerned ministers and even the Prime Minister to start the discussion and reply to the same.
“You can make your request and demand during your speech. It cannot be a condition. We cannot start discussion on such a condition. I allowed discussion as per the procedure,” Kurien said, insisting that members should start the debate.
Yechury said, “A Rashtrapati Bhavan communique says the Prime Minister is responsible for all major policy decisions. Only PM can take all major policy decisions and, therefore, he should be present in the House and reply to the debate.”
Amid heated arguments, Home Minister Rajnath Singh rose to say, “Before lunch, there was consensus on the discussion and at that time the Prime Minister was present in the House. The discussion could have been started and the Prime Minister might have intervened.”
Noting that there is certain sanctity associated with the post of the Prime Minister, he said since the issue is about internal security, he is in-charge and he would be replying to the debate in the House.
“If members are not satisfied with my reply, there can be possibility that the Prime Minister may intervene… But I am sad that the Prime Minister was here and despite that opposition did not allow discussion on this serious issue,” he said.
Kurien asked Anand Sharma to initiate the debate, but he refused to budge from the demand. Later, he asked Digvijay Singh (Cong) to speak as his name was first on the list.
When Singh too refused to speak, Kurien asked Rajeev to begin the debate. “It was your motion. It is conceded. You have to start the discussion,” he said.
Peeved over the Opposition members’ demand, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “Don’t give sermons to us. Give sermons to your members. We will give reply, but you start the discussion…You cannot dictate the Government…”
K C Tyagi (JD-U) said the Home Minister gives a lengthy speech and hence the Prime Minister should reply.
Taking offence to this, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “When the Home Minister gets up to speak, whether lengthy or short, it should be respected. To say his speech as lengthy, I feel bit hurt.”
Tyagi later clarified that he was cracking a joke.
Anand Sharma raised a point of order, saying, “As per the rule, if an assurance given by any minister is violated (then) that minister can come and reply. If assurances are violated repeatedly, only PM can come.”
To this, the Chair said the member should take recourse to the Assurance Committee.
Taking a dig at Sharma, Naqvi said, “I have sympathies with you and other members. Every time, they look for excuse and new stories. That will harm you and your party. You should think something new.” (PTI)
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