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Bedlam in Rajya Sabha continues after lunch

Bedlam prevailed in the Rajya Sabha for 20 minutes today as opposition members again disrupted proceedings, demanding that the resolution to ratify President's rule in Bihar be taken up for discussion.

Members of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Samajwadi Party raised the issue when the House reassembled at 1430 hours IST after the first adjournment.

Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla asked the members to let the government lay on the table the papers on supplementary demands before private members' resolutions could be taken up.

She told the agitated members that they were encroaching upon the rights of private members by preventing a discussion on their resolutions.

But Virumbi (DMK) and other opposition members said the government had earlier bypassed the Rajya Sabha by not bringing the Prasar Bharati Bill and other bills before it. This is a "great insult" to the House, they said.

M Venkaiah Naidu of the Bharatiya Janata Party said the remarks by opposition members that they would allow nothing to be discussed except Bihar constituted a "threat to the House".

Heptulla ruled that no one could undermine the Rajya Sabha and the resolution on Bihar would be taken up "according to the convenience of the government".

The government has given no indication that it would not fulfil its constitutional obligation of bringing the resolution on Bihar in the Rajya Sabha. It is not shying away from its responsibilities, she said.

She also read out the decisions of the Business Advisory Committee about discussions on various issues to be taken up in the House next week.

Since the BAC agenda did not mention the Bihar resolution, the opposition members said they were agitated because democracy was being "throttled" and the Constitution "trampled upon". They pleaded with the chair to salvage the dignity of the House by ensuring that the resolution is taken up first.

Heptulla pointed out that the BAC consists of members even from the opposition parties and so they should not protest against its decisions. She assured the members that she would allow a discussion on the Bihar resolution.

Not satisfied, the opposition members kept demanding loudly that the House first discuss the situation in Bihar.

Refusing to concede the demand, Heptulla warned that she would adjourn the House. She then directed Kamala Sinha to move her private member's resolution on the atrocities on Christians.

UNI

EARLIER REPORT:
Rajya Sabha adjourned

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