New Delhi: As the Rajya Sabha continued to be disrupted through the third week of the monsoon session, around 30 MPs of the ruling National Democratic Alliance yesterday wrote to Chairman M Hamid Ansari to take action against Congress parliamentarians disrupting the proceedings.
“Members of the Congress party are disrupting the house, continuing for over two weeks in this monsoon session. You (chairman) and the deputy chairman have time and again appealed (to) such members and have warned them that they should go back to their seats and should not disrupt (the proceedings),” the signed letter said.
The letter pointed out that the Congress MPs were disrupting the house despite the warnings.
“All members are equal and our rights as members are infringed upon by such disruptions. We want to raise many important issues of public interest on the floor of the house. But disruptions and subsequent adjournments are depriving us (of) this opportunity. The conduct of some members of the Congress is not allowing us to discharge our duty as MPs,” the letter read.
“We request you now to take action against such members disrupting the house proceedings,” it added.
The letter did not name any other opposition party.
The monsoon session, which began on July 21, has been facing continued disruptions over the alleged help extended to former IPL chief Lalit Modi by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, and over the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh.
The Congress has been demanding the resignations of Sushma Swaraj, Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The government has, however, made it clear that there would be no resignations and also refused to discuss state issues in parliament. Government sources say while back channel talks with other opposition parties appear to be on track, the Congress has refused to budge from its stand.
Congress members trooped near the chairman’s podium several times, raising slogans and demanding an explanation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Congress and some other opposition parties are demanding the resignation of Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for their links with former IPL chief Lalit Modi, and of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj SIngh Chouhan on the Vyapam scam.
When the house met at 11am yesterday, there was brief order as Home Minister Rajnath Singh read out a statement on the terror attack in Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir where a Pakistani terrorist was nabbed.
Soon after, the Congress members were on their feet raising slogans, forcing the first adjournment till 12 noon. At noon, amid similar scenes, Chairman Ansari adjourned the house till 2pm. The post-lunch session was no different. Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh moved for a discussion on the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013, which would amend the Prevention of Corruption Act.
However, a debate could not be taken up due to the uproar. The opposition members said the bill would not be discussed until the house was in order. An angry Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “This is the behaviour which led to what happened in the other house... What do they want?
“What does this ‘ho ho’ mean?” he asked, referring to the noise from the Congress benches.
“Go out on the streets and shout if you want.” Amid the din, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien adjourned the house for the day.
IANS
