'PM have some shame' protests washout Parliament proceedings

The winter session of the Parliament is heading towards a washout as the opposition is seeking an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “conspiracy with Pakistan” remark against his predecessor Manmohan Singh.

Lok Sabha

Noisy scenes by the Congress members on Wednesday marred proceedings in the Lok Sabha, which witnessed two adjournments and a walkout by the main opposition party.

However, after the Congress members walked out in the afternoon, the House took up legislative business.

The House was first adjourned till noon minutes after it had assembled for the day, the second adjournment till 2 PM came soon after the listed papers were laid. The Prime Minister was present in the House when it was adjourned for the first time.

As soon as the Speaker took up the Question Hour, Congress leaders raised the issue of the remarks made by Modi against Singh during the Gujarat election campaign. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan immediately adjourned the House till noon.

Modi was present in the House at that time as questions related to the Prime Minister's Office are listed on Wednesday.

When the House met at noon after the first adjournment to take up the Zero Hour, Congress members stormed the Well raising slogans and asking Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to allow their leader Mallikarjun Kharge to speak.

Unmoved by the pleas, the Speaker asked BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab to speak on the issue of formation of a tribunal to settle the Mahanadi water sharing dispute.

As Mahtab started speaking, the Congress protests continued, though on a low key. But as soon as BJP MP Poonam Mahajan started speaking, the slogan-shouting by the Congress members intensified.

"What is happening? Why I am not being allowed to speak," Kharge was heard asking.

Kharge's colleague K C Venugopal said Kharge should be allowed to speak "that is his right". Another Congress MP Sushmita Dev shouted "We want Zero Hour".

When Poonam Mahajan tried to raise the issue of a statement made by a former MP in a TV talk show in Pakistan that Modi should be removed as the Prime Minister and another by an opposition leader that PoK belongs to Pakistan, the Congress MPs protested strongly and raised vociferous slogans.

As the turmoil continued, the Speaker adjourned the House for about 40 minutes till 2 PM.

When the proceedings recommenced at 2 PM, Congress members again pressed for their demand for an apology from the Prime Minister. However, the Chair ordered taking up the Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill for consideration and passage.

Kharge also wanted the remarks made by a "certain member" against Manmohan Singh to be expunged from the records of the House but did not name the MP.

He said the Speaker had assured the Congress MPs that the remarks would be expunged but that had not happened. Following this, the Congress members staged a walkout.

The House then took up for discussion and later passed the Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill.

Later, Congress MP Rajiv Satav said, "We also wanted the remarks made by Poonam Mahajan against be expunged."

The Congress has been raising the issue since Monday and demanding an apology from the Prime Minister for his remarks against his predecessor during the poll campaign.

Rajya Sabha

Congress protests over Modi’s “conspiracy with Pakistan” remark against his predecessor led to a virtual washout of the Rajya Sabha proceedings, even as Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said there was no question of an apology.

Noisy protests by the members of the Congress and other opposition parties seeking an apology from the prime minister continued unabated throughout the day since the proceedings began.

The Upper House saw two adjournments during the pre-lunch period, till the Chair finally called it a day a little after 2 pm.

The prime minster’s remarks also had its toll on proceeding in the Lok Sabha, where Congress members staged a walkout and boycotted the proceedings in the afternoon.

In the Upper House, Congress members raised slogans and created uproar soon after the House met for the day. As the protesting members entered the Well raising slogans, Naidu adjourned the House first during Zero Hour till noon and then during Question Hour till 2 pm.

Earlier, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said there was no question of giving an apology on the issue as nothing has been stated inside the House.

“Nobody is going to give apology. Nothing happened in the House. No statement is made in the House. There is no practice of suspension of Question Hour. Don’t make a mockery of the House. Already wrong message is going,” a visibly agitated Naidu told the protesting members when the House reassembled at noon after the first adjournment.

However, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said a little before the House was adjourned for the day, “We are not demanding an apology... But PM should come to the House and say that he has made such statements to win the elections.”

Raising the issue, Azad said the prime minister should clarify that he had made “such serious allegations” against a former prime minister, a former vice president and an ex-army chief for winning elections and it was an election stunt.

“Not even an ordinary MP or a worker can think of joining hands with Pakistan... For the last few days, we have been demanding that the PM should clarify on it... Tomorrow it is his Question Hour... he should clarify,” Azad said.

Pointing at former Army Chief V K Singh who was present in the House, Azad said serious allegations have been levelled against a former army chief and others.

Amidst the din, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to move the Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy Bill, 2017 for consideration and passage.

However, as the members trooped into the well and started raising slogans like “Pradhan Mantri Sharam Karo” (PM have shame) and “Jhoothe Aarop Wapas Lo” (withdraw false allegations), Kurien asked the House to maintain order and let him take up the bill.

As the uproar continued, Kurien said “the Leader of the opposition has raised the point. Even without knowing whether government has a reaction to it, how do you come to conclusion? The Chair can do nothing about it. I will be forced to adjourn the House.”

When repeated appeals failed to bring the House to order, Kurien said, “You don’t want to work... Can we discuss with Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, the subject you are raising?”

However, as the ruckus continued he adjourned the House for the day.

Earlier in the day, the Chairman had disallowed the protesting Congress members from raising the issue and warned them not to create obstruction and allow other members to raise important issues. “This is not the way,” he said. “This is Parliament. This is Rajya Sabha. Wrong message is going.”

Stating that he did not appreciate their behaviour, Naidu said “Please don’t exceed the limit. Please go to your seat”. Thereafter, he adjourned the House till noon.

Later when the House met again for Question Hour, Naidu’s pleas to allow the House to function did not find favour with an unrelenting opposition.

“Don’t attempt to snatch the rights of others. Let the members have the opportunity to ask their questions. Questions have been listed and much money has been spent... This is not the way,” he said.

However, as the unrelenting members continued their uproar, the Chair adjourned the House till 2 pm.