New Delhi: Rajya Sabha proceedings today again were disrupted by Congress, forcing two adjournments during the Question Hour over the crisis situation in Arunachal Pradesh for accusing the Governor of trying to ‘destabilise’ the congress government.
Soon after the house met at 12.37 p.m. after the first adjournment, Chairman Hamid Ansari tried to conduct question hour but Congress members started shouting slogans from their seats.
This has never happened in the history of India that a Deputy Speaker of Assembly removes the Speaker and that too outside the house at a makeshift venue. “Can another Assembly be created…this is an alarm bell …not only for one state, but for all regional parties,” Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said. He further commented that the assembly was being run from “someone’s drawing room”.
“On one hand, the government is seeking Opposition’s cooperation for smooth running of the house whereas on the other it was ‘dislodging’ an elected state government”, Azad said.
Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said the notice given by Azad was under consideration of the chairman, so the matter could be discussed only after his ruling. “Knowingly, unknowingly you are criticising the Governor …that is my problem. Once the motion is admitted, we can discuss,” Kurien said and asked members not to criticise the Governor till then.
CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury termed the Arunachal Pradesh crisis as anti-democratic actions. Sharad Yadav (JU-U) said it was not the first time that the Arunchal Pradesh issue has been raised in the House. “This is an alarming siutation. The (Centre) should have acted immediately,” he said.
Anything against the Governor would be expunged from the records. As the House started taking up special mentions, Congress members trooped into the Well raising slogans like ‘We want justice’, and ‘Modi’s dictatorship will not be allowed’. They also shouted slogans like “Killing of democracy will not be allowed in Arunachal” and “Killing of Constitution will not be allowed in Arunachal”, P J Kurien said.
Chairman Hamid Ansari then took the chair and requested the agitated Congress members to allow the house to take question hour, but Congress continued shouting slogans inside House, forcing an adjournment for 30 minutes. While a member asked a question, the reply by HRD Minister Smriti Irani could not be heard amid din.
When the House reassembled, Azad again rose to raise the Arunachal issue but was disallowed by Ansari who said it was the members’ right to ask questions and they should not disrupt the proceedings.
