Disruptions on issues such as Telangana, atrocities on Sri Lankan Tamils, sub-quota for minorities, and shortage of fertilisers on Monday marred President Pratibha Patil's Address to the joint sitting of Parliament.
Members of Parliament raised slogans to press their demands during Patil's last Address to Parliament before she completes her term in July.
Even Congress members from Andhra Pradesh, who are demanding Telangana statehood, disrupted her speech by raising slogans of "Jai Telangana".
Ironically, while Patil appealed to the members to work together "in a spirit of constructive cooperation" to discharge business in the two Houses of Parliament in this session, her own speech was disrupted five times.
Even before Patil began her speech, Dravida Munetra Kazhagam members were on their feet asking the government whether it would support a United States resolution to be moved in the United Nations against the Sri Lankan government for allegedly committing atrocities against Tamils living in that country when the war against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was nearing its end.
Towards the end of Patil's Address, the same issue was flagged by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam member V Maitreyan. Patil waved at him asking him to take his seat.
A reference by Patil to her government's recent decision to provide 4.5 per cent sub-quota within the Other Backward Classes quota for minorities also led to protests. Hukmadev Narayan Yadav (Bharatiya Janata Party) was on his feet to protest, saying the right of OBCs will be affected.
When Patil enumerated the steps being taken to increase fertiliser production, Janata Dal-United member from Jehanabad Jagdish Sharma alleged that farmers were not getting fertiliser.
