NEW DELHI, Dec 17:
Proceedings in Rajya Sabha were washed out for the third consecutive day today as opposition continued to press for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response to concerns over conversions and protested suspension of a Congress member for the day.
The only business that could be transacted amid din was introduction of the Anti-Hijacking (Amendment) Bill 2014 and withdrawal of a similar Bill. The Insurance Bill, a key reform legislation providing for raising FDI cap from 26 per cent to 49 per cent, could not be taken up again.
The House remained deadlocked with the Opposition unitedly voicing concern over reports of conversion and wanted no less than the Prime Minister himself to assure the House and the country that such things would not be allowed.
Amid slogan-shouting, members from Congress, Trinamool and Left questioned why the Government was not agreeing and asserted that the House will not be allowed to function till the demand is met.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said he could not direct the government to ensure the presence of the Prime Minister. He kept pleading that the discussion could start and Home Minister Rajnath Singh would reply to it.
“It is for the Prime Minister to decide whether to come or not. How can I say,” he said.
However, his pleas went unheeded and opposition members repeatedly trooped into the Well.
Amid ruckus, Chairman Hamid Ansari asked Congress member Hanumantha Rao to withdraw from the House invoking Rule 255. He along with other opposition members was raising slogans in the Well despite warnings by the Chair.
In the post-lunch session, Congress and SP wanted the “harsh” order against Rao to be withdrawn but Kurien said the decision of the Chairman was final. This led to more protests.
The uproar led to four adjournments before the final call at around 2.40 PM.
When the House met for the day, Naresh Agarwal (SP) raised a point of order saying that Modi had made certain utterances with regard to activities of his party members at BJP meeting. He said he should have done it only in the House.
To this, Leader of the House Arun Jaitley said, “The Prime Minister has not announced any policy decision in the party meeting.”
Attacking the SP member, he said, “In the name of Point of Order, can Naresh Agarwal raise every day in the House a Point of Disorder?”
Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) sarcastically said that since the opposition is being termed as “anarchist” he wanted to raise a ‘Point of Disorder’ — is the Prime Minister willing to come to the House to reply to the debate on the contentious issue of communal violence as that can end the deadlock.
“Will the Prime Minister come to listen to our discussion and reply to it? Then the country will know who are anarchists – we or they,” he said.
Anand Sharma (Cong) said, “If the Prime Minister does not come, there will be no work in this House. This House will not run, let us make it clear.”
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “Government is ready for discussion but opposition only wants disruption.”
Earlier, Pramod Tiwari (Cong) raised a point of order saying the Constitution makes the Prime Minister and the ministers responsible towards the House.
“We are not asking for something unconstitutional. People are spreading communalism outside and the Prime Minister has also admitted that MPs are crossing ‘Lakshman Rekha’. This country is sitting on a powder keg,” he said.
He was countered by Tarun Vijay (BJP), who said the House was ready for a discussion on ‘Vijay Diwas’ yesterday noting the contribution of Indian soldiers and honour former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for her contribution to the 1971 war but the opposition is creating ruckus. “Are they from a different planet? Are they special?” he questioned.
Later when Naresh Agarwal asked for status of his notice on the issue of rising incidents of communal violence, Chairman Hamid Ansari said it was infructuous as the debate has already been listed.
“You take care of your side, let Government take care of its side,” Ansari said as opposition kept asking if the Prime Minister would be present during debate.
Targeting the Prime Minister, Trinamool member Derek O’Brien asked whether he requires a “visa” to come to the House.
“Where is the master’s voice. We only see him in selfies. Does he need a visa to come to the House. Let him come to the House for the discussions. Why is he shying away,” he said.
This triggered angry protests from the treasury benches.
Objecting to the language used, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi demanded action from the Chair, who assured that the objectionable words will be expunged.
Naqvi said the Prime Minister does not only belong to any party but to the entire country and the member should restrain himself from using such language.
Amid the din, Digvijay Singh (Cong) raised the issue of party member Hanumantha Rao being asked by Chairman Hamid Ansari to withdraw from the House for the day under Rule 255 and requested that the decision be “reconsidered”.
He was supported by Naresh Agarwal who said the decision was “harsh” and there are precedents when members have been recalled.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, however, pleaded helplessness saying the Chairman’s ruling is final.
P Rajeeve (CPI-M) wondered if there was any rule which could be invoked asking the PM to come the House.
D Raja (CPI) said the “situation was grave” outside the House and wanted to know what was the difficulty of the PM in coming to the House.
J D Seelam (Cong), Tiruchi Shiva (DMK), K C Chaturvedi (Cong) also strongly opposed any discussion on communal violence till the PM comes to the House.
At this, members from Congress, TMC and SP trooped into the Well forcing the Chair to adjourn the House for the day at 2.40 PM. (PTI)
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