NEW DELHI:The Lok Sabha transacted some business on Friday despite the Congress continuing with its protests. First Speaker Sumitra Mahajan refused to take up the adjournment motions moved by the Congress. The Question Hour was held amid the din.
Later, the Zero Hour was conducted amid pandemonium created by the Opposition over Lalit Modi controversy and Vyapam scam.
As Opposition members, mainly from the Congress, trooped into the Well raising slogans, the BJP and Shiv Sena MPs raised issues which also included alleged corruption by the Congress-ruled state governments and facilities for seriously sick people on Mumbai’s local trains. During the protest by the Congress MPs, one of them K Suresh stepped on the podium of Secretary General Anoop Mishra. When Mishra asked him to step aside, he was snubbed by the MP who also placed the placard behind the Secretary General’s chair.
At one time, one member slammed a document on the Secretary General’s desk. Earlier during the week, a Congress MP was suspended from the House by Speaker as he was rude to the Chair and protested aggressively.
Meanwhile, the Upper House of Parliament on Friday failed to transact any business as stalemate continued with the Opposition persisting with its demand of resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj over Lalit Modi issue and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over Vyapam Scam.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad moved a motion that proceedings of the House be adjourned and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should come to the House and tell what action he has taken to ensure Chouhan’s resignation in the Vyapam scam.
Rejecting Azad’s demand, the government ruled out any resignations. The repeated adjournments led to its final closure for the day later in the afternoon.
The House could not function during the Zero Hour at 11 am, during Question Hour at 12 pm and when it met at 2.30 pm for Private Members’ Business, Azad suggested that if all sides agree, the Private Members’ Resolutions could be taken up in the next session. Leader of the House Arun Jaitley too gave his consent.
Minister for Culture Mahesh Sharma then moved for leave to withdraw the National Commission for Heritage Sites Bill 2009. The motion was adopted. Soon after, the Opposition re-started protests.