Washout in Rajya Sabha as Congress demands Gadkari's resignation

 Rajya Sabha on Friday failed to transact any business as Opposition Congress created ruckus, demanding resignation of Minister Nitin Gadkari in the wake of a CAG report that alleged irregularities involving loan extended to his family-linked Purti group.

The House saw repeated adjournments for six times before the final one at around 3.45 PM as uproar continued, with Congress members shouting slogans and trooping into the Well. There were heated exchanges between Congress and ruling BJP memers, who raised questions over the moral authority of Congress to discuss corruption. While the Congress pressed for Gadkari's resignation and stressed on accountability of ministers to Parliament, the BJP members shouted "Chor Machaye Shor (thief makes noise)".

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "This is not a question of allegation against an individual MP or minister. This is a CAG report." Noting that while BJP is talking about corruption and transparency in and outside the House and attacking previous UPA government on corruption issue, he said here is a case involving something for which he (Gadkari) had to resign as BJP President in past. "This is a CAG report against a company he was heading.

Having been indicted he cannot continue as a minister," the Congress leader said. Deputy Leader of Congress Anand Sharma recalled that BJP, in 2012, had stalled Parliament for 23 days after leak of a CAG report, apparently referring to 2G spectrum allocation issue in which then Telecom Minister A Raja was the target. "We do respect rule, we respect democracy, which your government does not respect... Since I have been reminded. Let met tell you that in 2012 on leaked CAG report, 23 days were disrupted," the former Union Minister said, while responding to criticism for stalling the House.

"In this House and the other, council of ministers are accountable. We have very recently established a precedent based on leaked CAG report. First, there should be accountability," Sharma said. Apparently taking a dig at Modi, he said, "We are helping Prime Minister, who is for zero tolerance to corruption. Where is zero tolerance? We want that zero tolerance. You cannot have two standards. There cannot be double standards."

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, "Congress always talks about corruption. It seems it loves corruption. How can they misquote? The government is ready for discussion on corruption. We are ready for discussion on all issues."

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien repeatedly tried to bring order to the House, even pleading that "3.30 PM to 6 PM is not government's time, it is members' time. Therefore my request is to allow private members bill." As uproar continued with some members chanting "arrest Gadkari", he adjourned the House for the day at around 3.45 PM. Earlier, the House was adjourned six times, ensuring that no business could be transacted.

Earlier, Naqvi said that Congress has become a "Confused Party" and that while it "runs away" from a debate on corruption, it is making "sweeping statements". He said it is "ridiculous" that Congress party was talking about corruption and that it was unfortunate the way allegations are being levelled and a minister has been named. "We are ready to have a discussion on the issue of corruption. Congress always runs away from discussing corruption. It does not behove you to discuss corruption. Not disussing and making sweeping statement won't work. They are making a sweeping statements," the MoS Parliamentary Affairs said.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said, "if any name is mentioned, I am expunging it." Trouble started when Shantaram Naik (Cong) raised the issue during Zero Hour, saying the CAG in a report last week had stated that Purti Sakhar Karkhana Ltd (PSKL) — a bagasse based co-generation project of the Purti Group in which Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Gadkari was once a board member — did not meet conditions for availing interest subsidy from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

He said CAG has found that PSKL did not comply with the conditions for interest subsidy which stipulated that the renewable energy project was to operate for a minimum of 10 years after its completion. The project, which was to be commissioned in February 2004, but finally commissioned in March 2007, in June 2009 over to 100 per cent coal-based operation as against up to 25 per cent allowed in the subsidy scheme, he said and demanded that "Gadkari has to resign."