Rajya Sabha adjourned after uproar over Orissa communal violence

The Bharatiya Janata Party and ruling Congress members clashed  on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha over the issue of attack on Christians in Orissa, leading to abrupt adjournment of the House.

Trouble broke out when Congress member Shantaram Naik rose to read his zero hour notice on the issue, provoking BJP members who strongly protested against raising state matters.

Orissa is ruled by the Biju Janata Dal-BJP coalition.

Rudra Narayan Pany of the BJP led the opposition attack which was immediately countered by Congress members, plunging the House into turmoil.

Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan pleaded with the agitated members to restore peace as the notice had been admitted by the Chairman and he could not do anything about it.

Amidst noisy scenes, Khan asked Naik to read the notice, further infuriating the opposition members who rushed to the well.

At one point of time, an agitated Pany was seen rushing towards the Congress bench and was persuaded by his senior party colleagues to go back to his place.

As the din continued, Khan adjourned the House 15 minutes before the scheduled lunch recess.