NEW DELHI : Tempers ran high in Rajya Sabha today with official papers being torn by some members objecting to the mention of ten MPs for action against them for “violation of rules”.
The copies of House bulletin were torn by V Maitreyan (AIADMK) and T M Selvaganapathi (DMK) during a protest by members over various issues including Telangana Statehood and plight of Tamil fishermen.
The House saw four adjournments till lunch without any substantial business being transacted.
Members from TDP raised the Telangana issue, while DMK and AIADMK protested harassment of Tamil fishermen by trooping into the Well as soon as the House met for the day, forcing Chairman Hamid Ansari to adjourn it twice including one within barely a minute after it assembled.
The agitating members again rushed to the Well displaying placards like “Save Andhra Pradesh” as soon as it reassembled at noon, with Deputy Chairman P J Kurien adjourning it for 15 minutes till 12.17 PM.
However, when it met again, similar scenes were witnessed and in the melee Maitreyan and a few others were seen tearing bulletins in which members of AIADMK, DMK and TDP were named for obstructing proceedings.
With the House in disorder, an angry Kurein said, “I know what you want. You want censoring of the proceedings of the House. It is illegal, against rules. It is unbecoming of you. What you are doing is wrong…Unruly. I am sorry.”
During the uproar, ministers Jairam Ramesh and Rajiv Shukla were seen requesting Maitreyan not to throw the torn pieces of papers.
Kurien then adjourned the House till 2 PM.
Ten members Y S Chowdary and C M Ramesh (both TDP), N Balaganga, A W Rabi Bernard, K R Arjunan, T Rathinavel, R Lakshmanan (all AIADMK) and Vasanthi Stanley, A A Jinnah and T M Selvaganapathi (all DMK) were named in Rajya Sabha Bulletin of February 7 for disrupting proceedings.
“Due to gross disorderly conduct in violation of rules and etiquette of Rajya Sabha by the following members who, from time to time, entered the ‘Well’ of the House and persistently and willfully obstructed the proceedings of the House, the Chair repeatedly adjourned the House during the course of the day,” the bulletin said.
After the House was adjourned ahead of lunch today, Selvaganapathi shouted: “Where do we disuss the issue of Tamil fishermen if we are not allowed to raise the issue here?” (AGENCIES)
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