Thursday, November 24, 2011

Parliament adjourned twice after uproar

The issues of price rise and Telangana created turmoil in Parliament for the third day on Thursday as agitated Opposition members raised slogans, staged a sit-in in the Well and walked out, leading to two adjournments of both Houses.

As soon as the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha assembled for the day, members of BSP, RJD and BJD and those from Congress belonging to Telangana region, along with TRS, started raising slogans to press for their varied demands, forcing their adjournment till noon.

Similar scenes were witnessed when the Houses reassembled, forcing the second adjournment till 2 pm.

On behalf of the government, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy said in the Rajya Sabha, "We are ready for a short-duration discussion (on price rise). We can start the discussion even now."

When the Lok Sabha reassembled at noon, TRS members – K Chandrashekhar Rao and Vijayashanti - came into the Well and staged a sit-in to demand a separate Telangana.

They were vociferously supported by Congress members from the region who carried placards and raised slogans from the aisles. They sought introduction of the bill for creation of the separate state to be carved out of Andhra Pradesh.

BSP and RJD members also shouted slogans demanding debate on price rise under rules which entail voting, while members of the BJD wanted 'special category status' to flood-ravaged Odisha. BSP members staged a walkout later.

In the melee, Speaker Meira Kumar announced that as per the rules, the adjournment motions on "unprecedented rise in prices of essential commodities" moved by SP and other parties could not be accepted. However, a special discussion on the same issue under Rule 193, which does not entail voting, would be taken up at 2 pm, she said.

In the Rajya Sabha, members from the BSP insisted on a discussion on price rise under a rule that entails voting.

Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan, who was in the Chair, told them that their notice was under consideration.

Soon the BSP members were on their feet supported by, CPI-M, CPI and JD-U. Members from BJP, including SS Ahluwalia and Maya Singh supported them saying BJP was ready for a discussion.

At this, Minister of State in PMO V Narayanasamy told the Opposition members that Government was ready for a short duration discussion any time on the issue.

However, the members insisted on the motion being taken up under Rule 167, for which voting could take place under Rule 168.

Khan tried to persuade the agitating members telling them about the Government's readiness to discuss the issue but the members refused to relent forcing him to adjourn the House for two hours till 2 pm.

Outside the Rajya Sabha, Ahluwalia said, "We have given notice on price rise and black money and are ready for a discussion on any of these."

CPI leader D Raja said, "Government should not have the attitude to just to talk it out. We have discussed the price rise many a times and even two resolutions have been adopted but nothing has happened. So there has to be something more substantial than merely discussing the issue."

No comments:

Post a Comment