Continuing its opposition to the new legislation that would reserve promotions in government jobs for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SCs/STs), the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Tuesday disrupted the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha, forcing the Chair to adjourn the House thrice.
As soon as the House reassembled after lunch, the SP members rushed to the well and started shouting slogans against the Constitution Amendment Bill for Quota in Promotions as Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy tried to move the Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill, 2012 for consideration and passing.
The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in the Monsoon Session, but could not be taken up due to disruption on the coal block issue. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien appealed to the agitating members to go back to their seats.
“If you don’t want the bill, you can vote against it. You cannot stall the House like this,” he said before adjourning the House till 3 pm.
After the House reassembled, SP members again trooped into the well. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad requested the Chair to bring order in the House. Sudarsana Natchiappan, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House for one hour.
With the SP members repeating the act again, Deputy Chairman Kurien cautioned the agitating members that the Chair will be forced to take action. Kurien also suggested the Opposition to take initiative to bring the House in order. “It is the job of all of us, not just the Chair. We all have this responsibility to bring the House in order,” Kurien said.
When his efforts failed, he adjourned the House for the day.