Parliament's Winter Session got off to a fiery start with frequent disruptions in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, as the Congress demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his insinuation that his predecessor Manmohan Singh conspired with Pakistan to meddle in the Gujarat elections.
The Opposition protested and raised slogans. There were three adjournments as Opposition leaders did not allow the proceedings to continue before the House was adjourned at 3 pm. The ruckus followed the Prime Minister's comment earlier in the day that he hoped for a constructive debate in the Winter Session. The Lok Sabha was adjourned after obituaries.
Modi had alleged during an election rally in Gujarat that some Pakistani leaders met Singh at a dinner hosted by Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on December 6, suggesting they were hatching a conspiracy to influence the Assembly elections in the state.
"This is not an ordinary allegation... against a former PM, Vice-President and Army chief," Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said. He gave a notice under rule 267, seeking suspension of the listed business to discuss the issue.
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, presiding over his first full session after being appointed Vice-President, rejected the notice and asked the member to sit down. With more commotion, the House was adjourned.
Naidu, known for his wit, did not hold himself back as there was continuous shouting by agitated members who also protested against the disqualification of JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar of the same party.
"I don't appreciate the conduct of coming to the Well. ... There is a saying that all is well, not well. Try to understand this."
Amid the shouting, Naidu said there cannot be any discussion on the decision of the Chair. "There is no discussion on the ruling of the chairman. Please sit down." "This is a political issue which you are raising, which you discuss outside the House."
When the House met again, Azad raised the issue amid uproar and it was adjourned again till 3 PM by Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien.
Several Congress members, including Oscar Fernandes, Shamsher Singh Dullo, Renuka Chowdhury and Sanjay Singh, trooped into the Well of the House, shouting slogans.
Kurien pleaded with members to take up the private members' business but Samajwadi Party member Naresh Agarwal raised the issue of the Centre's move to set up special courts for cases against MPs and MLAs, questioning the move.
When Kurien said it was a decision of the Supreme Court, Agarwal said he had not criticised the top court but his questions were directed at the government.
Congress leader Anand Sharma also got up and in support of Agarwal. Amid the chaos, Congress members once against tried to corner the government by shouting slogans demanding an apology from the Prime Minister.
This is when the House was adjourned for the day.
Private members' bills including 'The Educational Innovations Commission Bill 2017' by Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and 'The Prevention of Enforced Disappearance Bill 2017' by V Vijayasai Reddy were introduced.
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