Opposition ranks united on Thursday to disrupt proceedings of Parliament over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dig at his predecessor Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, stating that the latter knew the art of taking bath wearing a raincoat as there were many scams during his government but he had remained untainted.
Rajya Sabha
Congress and other opposition parties forced adjournment of Rajya Sabha twice demanding an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks "insulting" his precedessors.
Besides Congress members, their AIADMK counterparts too were in the well of the House demanding that Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao should discharge his constitutional duty by swearing in V K Sasikala as the chief minister without wasting any further time.
The Congress, CPI-M and JD-U said the prime minister was "abusive" and used "insulting" language.
They said they were not given an opportunity to seek clarifications during the debate on Wednesday despite Chairman Hamid Ansari citing precedence and tradition of the House that gave members the right to seek such response after prime minister or a minister's statement.
With ruling benches countering them vociferously, Congress and other opposition party members trooped into the Well raising slogans demanding an apology from Modi, which along with slogan shouting by AIADMK members created a din, forcing Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to adjourn the House till noon.
Finance Minister and Leader of the House Arun Jaitley said ruling of the Chair cannot be challenged by a notice under rule 267 and rules gave government the right to reply to a debate but it does not provide for a reply to rejoinders.
While Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said Modi had used "abusive" language against his party's former general secretary, Anand Sharma (Cong) said the prime minister had insulted the memory of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said when he had sought to raise the issue of export duty on wheat and pulses import, Modi had said he would listen to him after his intervention was over.
Chairman Hamid Ansari had also reminded the prime minister of the tradition and practice of the House to allow clarifications from members but the same was not heeded to, he said.
When the House reassembled at noon, Chairman Hamid Ansari's call for taking up the Question Hour went unheeded as uproar by opposition Congress over Modi's remarks continued.
Yechury (CPI-M) said he has given a notice under rule 267 seeking suspension of business to consider his motion seeking to raise concern against prime minister's refusal to reply to questions raised in the debate and the use of "abusive" language by him.
He claimed that Modi's was "abusive" in his remarks against a former member of Lok Sabha and a general secretary of the CPI(M), both of whom were no more.
Maintaining there was "complete distortion of facts" by Modi, he said the Left has been fighting against blackmoney and will continue to do so.
The chair, he said, had during the debate yesterday pointed to the practice and tradition of the House that gave right to the member whose name has been taken to respond. He said he was not allowed to speak despite his name being taken by the prime minister.
Kurien said since the issue was a closed chapter after yesterday's debate, he was disallowing the motion.
Yechury went on to state that this was unprecedented. "Such abuses cannot be tolerated," he said.
He wanted the government answer "just one question" about how much of black money had returned to the banking system in the 50-day window provided to deposit the junked currency post demonetisation.
Yechury charged the government with allowing blackmoney holders to convert their ill-gotten wealth into white through demonetisation.
But Kurien said "I cannot allow discussion again because it was complete (yesterday)", though agreeing with Yechury's contention and saying "some points might not have been answered.... If you are aggrieved, make use of the rule book."
Anand Sharma (Cong) said rule 238 disallows use of offensive expression during a debate.
"He has dragged political debate to new low... he was abusive... we will oppose him," he said.
Kurien said it is a closed chapter as far as the Chair is concerned. "I cannot reopen a discussion which is concluded. I am rejecting 267 notice... there are so many other ways of raising (your concerns)," he said.
Bhupendra Yadav (BJP) said rule 240 provides that if a member repeatedly speaks irrelevant things, it is the duty of members to stop him.
Yechury latched on to it to say that he agreed with the BJP member that what the "prime minister spoke was totally irrelevant."
Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said the Chair had at the time of debate on Wednesday reminded the prime minister of the tradition of the House to allow clarifications but this was not heeded to.
As BJP members objected, he started to read from the records of the House. At this point, AIADMK members rushed into the Well. They were closely followed by Congress members raising high-pitched slogans.
While the AIADMK wanted the Governor to discharge his Constitutional duty, Congress members shouted "Pradhan Mantri Maafi Mango" (Prime Minister, Apologise) and "Narendra Modi Sharam Karo, Sharam Karo" (Narendra Modi shame on you).
As the din continued, Kurien adjourned the House till 1200 hours.
Lok Sabha
Congress members staged a walkout of the Lok Sabha protesting against Prime Minister Modi's remarks.
Party Leader in the House Mallikarjun Kharge tried to raise the issue as soon as the Zero Hour began but the Speaker disallowed him, saying a matter relating to the other House cannot be raised.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar also said the issue cannot be raised here.
Whatever Modi has said about Singh is not good for parliamentary democracy, Kharge said before the Speaker cut him off.
With party president Sonia Gandhi looking on, Congress members trooped into the Well demanding that the Prime Minister apologise for his remarks.
An irate Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said they were snatching away the rights of other members as they have got the chance to speak during the Zero Hour after several days on Thursday.
Kharge said what Modi had said was an insult to the country.
With the Speaker continuing with Zero Hour proceedings, Congress members staged a walkout.
Congress has no moral right to preach about etiquette: BJP
Meanwhile, hitting out at Congress for obstructing proceedings in both Houses, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday said the opposition party had no moral right to preach or give sermon to others and demanded that it apologise to Parliament and the prime minister for calling him names.
“Congress has no moral right to teach us or preach us or give sermons about parliamentary etiquette and standards.
“Congress needs to ponder about its conduct of creating disturbances when the PM is addressing the House. They should in fact apologise to the House for their conduct. They need to apologise to the people, Parliament and PM,” Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said.
He said the opposition, particularly Congress, “Should tender an apology for obstructing Parliament, the prime minister for not showing respect to the him, for making running commentary and also for creating disturbances, for making uncharitable remarks against the prime minister, not only now, but also earlier”.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said, “They should apologise not only to BJP, but the entire country. We showed them the mirror from our side, unmasked Congress and hence, they are not able to digest it.”
“They (Opposition) called him (the PM) ‘Hitler’, ‘Mussolini’, ‘Gaddafi’. They made all sort of meaningless remarks against the PM. It is a shame. They are not able to understand the reality, creating issue out of non-issues, why should the prime minister apologise?” Naidu asked.
