Another day was lost to the “coal war” between the BJP and Congress as both Houses of Parliament failed to transact any business on Tuesday.
Even the usually reserved Congress chief Sonia Gandhi showed signs of aggression as she led from the front by egging on her members in the Lok Sabha to counter the Opposition’s sloganeering on the coal allocation issue.
Even before the Question Hour began, she was seen engaged in an animated conversation with leaders of key UPA allies — NCP chief Sharad Pawar and NC leader Farooq Abdullah.
From there, she walked up to Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and was seen talking to him for a few minutes.
Sonia was on her toes during Zero Hour too as the Lok Sabha met again at noon after the Question Hour was adjourned.
When BJP members trooped into the well and shouted slogans against Congress, Sonia was seen directing Ambika Soni to counter the BJP.
Though Soni tried her best to defend Congress, her voice was drowned in the din.
Then Sonia was seen trying to draw the Chair’s attention towards Soni.
Sonia then asked other Congress members to stand up and take on the BJP.
When some members from the Treasury benches walked to the well and had an exchange of words with BJP MPs, Sonia restrained her party colleagues from entering the well.
Pandemonium broke out as members tried to outshout each other before the proceedings resumed at noon and immediately the House was adjourned.
When Lok Sabha assembled again at 2 pm, the same scene continued as members of both the parties trooped into the well.
As they refused to heed to Speaker Meira Kumar’s repeated requests, the House was adjourned for the day.