A united Opposition on Wednesday cornered the government in the Rajya Sabha and created pandemonium demanding resignation of Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti for her controversial remarks leading to a wash-out of the proceedings for the second day in a row.
The House saw trouble soon after it met for the day with opposition attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not coming to the House to speak on the issue and wanted him to announce the "sacking" of the minister. The House was adjourned four times in the pre-lunch sitting and twice again in the post-lunch period due to the opposition uproar, before it was adjourned for the day. Opposition members alleged the minister had "violated" the Constitution as her controversial utterances were against the word "secular" and its spirit as enshrined in the Constitution.
The entire Opposition was up on its feet from the word go and its members stormed into the Well while raising slogans demanding the minister's dismissal. Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu rejected the demand citing controversial remarks made in the past by leaders from other parties as well. BJP members were also seen engaged in angry exchange of words with the Opposition as government appeared toughening its stand on the issue with a number of ministers countering the demand. Members from Congress, SP and JD (U) trooped into the Well while those from CPI-M, CPI and Trinamool Congress were on their feet rejecting the government's argument that the matter should be treated as closed since the minister has already expressed regret.
Soon after Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari took up obituary references after the House met for the day, Opposition members created uproarious scenes seeking action against the minister. Ashwani Kumar (Cong) said this is an issue concerning the entire nation and accused the Minister of abusing everyone. "Such comments can divide the nation," an aggressive Kumar said, demanding the Prime Minister's presence in the House and announcement about the minister's sacking.
Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) said the words "secular" and "socialist" were included in the basic structure of the Constitution and the minister's statement is not as per the spirit of the word. "The Minister has thus violated the Constitution," he said. At this, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the minister has made the statement outside the House for which she has already expressed regret and similar statements have been made in the past by former Minister Beni Prasad Verma and a TMC member but no action was initiated against them.
The agitating members did not allow External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to make a statement on the Prime Minister's recent visits abroad. As Swaraj wanted to read out her statement and refused to lay it on the table, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien tried to pacify the agitated members and urged them to maintain decorum saying the minister has to make an important statement but to no avail.
Earlier, renewing his demand for passing a condemnation resolution, Naresh Agrawal (SP) said, "This House does not have faith in the minister and demands that she be sacked." Deputy Leader of Congress Anand Sharma said the remarks made by the minister is "not only a cognisable but also compoundable offence" under section 153(A) of the IPC and demanded that the Prime Minister should come to the House and inform it that the minister has been sacked.
Section 153(A) of the IPC deals with the offence of promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence and language and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.
"We are not seeking any apology. The minister should be sacked. This is an insult to the Constitution. The Prime Minister should inform the House that the minister has been sacked," Sharma said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}