Parliament work hit over Gujarat Lokayukta issue

The appointment of Gujarat Lokayukta created turmoil in Parliament on Friday with Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party forcing several adjournments of both the Houses demanding recall of Governor Kamala Beniwal for what they alleged was a "dictatorial" act.

Loktantra me tanashahi nahi chalegi (dictatorship will not do in a democracy), Samvidhan ka ulanghan nahi chalega (violation of Constitution will not be allowed) were the slogans raised by the BJP members who stormed the well in Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Agitated over the action of the Governor, they also chanted slogans like 'Rajyapal ko wapas bulao' (recall the Governor) and Lokayukta ka notification wapas lo' (withdraw the notification appointing Lokayukta).

It was trouble from the start in the Upper House, which was first adjourned for 15 minutes soon after it assembled for the day and then around noon, till 2.30 pm.

In the Lok Sabha, the Question Hour was smooth and the problem started during Zero Hour.

M Thambidorai, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House till 2.00 pm after ordering laying of the papers listed for the day, allowing the submissions as also taking up a Calling Attention on situation arising out of lack of storage of foodgrains with FCI.

But the continued din, with slogan-shouting BJP members in the well, forcing him to adjourn the House for almost two hours.

Some Samajwadi Party members also stormed the well apparently in support of Rashtriya Janata Dal member Uma Shankar Singh's demand for security in the wake of a recent attack on his house in Bihar in which four persons were killed.

In the Rajya Sabha, no substantive business could be conducted. Both Question Hour and Zero Hour became the casualty with BJP continuing the protests forcing repeated adjournments of the House.

Trouble began as soon as the House assembled for the day and between 11 am and 12.25 am, the Chair had to adjourn the House four times.

After Home Minister P Chidambaram made a statement on an issue concerning elections to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), BJP members rushed into the well shouting slogans demanding recall of the Gujarat Governor.

While Chairman Hamid Ansari tried to reason with the agitating members to allow Question Hour, the unrelenting BJP members forced him to adjourn the House for 15  minutes.

Similar scenes were repeated when the House met again.

Shouting slogans like Samvidhan ka ulanghan nahi chalega, nahi chalega (Violation of constitution will not do) the BJP members created ruckus and soon Ansari adjourned the House till noon.

There was no change in the situation when the House reassembled. Amid din, P J Kurien, who was  in the Chair, asked for paper laying.

Amidst shouting of slogans and counter-slogans by BJP and ruling side members, Kurien tried to take up the Zero Hour mentions.

V Hanumantha Rao (Cong), supported by other party colleagues, retorted, Parliament ka apmaan nahin chalega (Don't show disrespect to Parliament).

As the din continued, the Chair first adjourned the House for 15 minutes during Zero Hour and later till 2.30 pm. Earlier, during Question Hour, the House was adjourned twice.