Anand Sharma wanted to raise the issue under Rule 267, which prescribes suspension of business to discuss a subject, but Deputy Chariman P J Kurien disallowed it
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma's comments that the newly elected President Ram Nath Kovind's inaugural address was disappointing as it ignored India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and compared Deen Dyal Upadhyaya to Mahatma Gandhi sparked a war of words in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Sharma wanted to raise the issue under Rule 267, which prescribes suspension of business to discuss a subject, but Deputy Chariman P J Kurien disallowed it.
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the government was trying to insult leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru, who had fought for India's independence. "The centenary of those people is being observed who had no connection with the freedom struggle. They are doing 'pick and choose'," he alleged.
The Congress's assertion that the government was undermining the contribution of Gandhi and Nehru triggered an onslaught by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley accusing the opposition of "grossly abusing" the adjournment notices, and suggested that Sharma's remarks should be expunged. "In every case, we have found these are not issues under the motion of Rule 267 and therefore, it is a practice which is being grossly abused. That is what is happening today...This has all been enacted," Jaitley said.
The heated exchanges led to frequent adjournments as the Opposition reacted sharply to Jaitley's comments.
"Every day what is not the point of order is raised as point of order, knowing fully that you are violating the rule," Jaitley later said, adding that if a member wanted to raise an issue about media reports suggesting that some crucial evidence in the Samjhauta Express blast of 2005 had been ignored, he should be allowed, referring to BJP member Subramanian Swamy's notice. "None of us were born today that we don't realise each other's games. We know this noise is being created only because some members want to raise the issue of Samjhauta case," he said.
Congress members then entered the Well, raising slogans and forcing a brief adjournment of the House.
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 "Anand Sharma")
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