NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha saw several adjournments with Congress members coming into the well of the house shouting slogans like “Stop killing democracy” and demanding discussion on the issue. Congress leader Anand Sharma has even given notice for suspension of Zero Hour to discuss the matter but the chair turned it down.
Speaking during Zero Hour, Sharma cited two judgments of the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court that said that if there is no clear majority of any party, the Governor is obliged that is the law position to first invite the leader of the largest party to form the Government and to prove their majority.
“I am sorry to say that the mandate has been violated, established law and the constitutional position have been disrespected, and a party which has won elections in a big State is stealing MLAs, stealing the mandate to cobble the Government. It is a murder of democracy only because they have won. They do not have the right to do what they have done,” said Sharma.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad also wanted to make a statement on the issue during Question Hour but was denied by the Chairman Hamid Ansari who asked them to speak on the issue during second half.
As Congress members continued protest, the house was adjourned several times.
CPIM leader Sitaram Yechury also supported the Congress and said that the principle of the single largest party has been violated and the House must note that this is something of a violation that has happened.
“I was a part of the delegation that went to the President Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, in 1996, with a majority in the Lok Sabha. He said No, the single largest party is the BJP, and he sworn-in the BJP Government and Vajpayee's Government, which lasted for 13 days,” said Yechury.
The matter was also raised in the Lok Sabha with the Congress leaders demanding discussion on the matter.