Rajya Sabha disrupted for fifth day

Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were washed out for the fifth consecutive day on Thursday after uproar over issues of FDI in retail and quota for SCs/STs in promotions in government jobs.

As the House met for the day, Bharatiya Janata Party members led by Venkaiah Naidu and Ravi Shankar Prasad were on their feet along with others, raising the demand for holding a discussion on FDI in multi-brand retail under a rule that entails voting.

Samajwadi Party members too were on their feet opposing a bill to provide reservation to SCs and STs in promotions in government jobs. Amid din, Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the House till noon.

Similar scenes were witnessed when the House reassembled with members from Samajwadi Party trooping into the Well and shouting slogans against reservation in promotions.

SP members including Ramgopal Yadav, Naresh Agrawal and others were shouting slogans, while members from Bahujan Samaj Party were on their feet countering them.

As members from both rival parties in Uttar Pradesh kept shouting on the quota issue, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien adjourned the House for the day.

Earlier, when the House met for the day, BJP member Ravi Shankar Prasad sought to know from the government under what rule it proposed to hold discussion on FDI issue.

Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office V Narayanasamy said the opposition could raise the issue during Zero Hour.

Ansari asked members to take their seats so that Question Hour could be taken up but with members remaining adamant, he adjourned the House till noon.