A cartoon depicting BR Ambedkar purportedly published in a NCERT textbook and row over Home Minister P Chidambaram's statement in the Aircel-Maxis deal led to disruption of the Lok Sabha.
Proceedings in Parliament were on Friday disrupted due to turmoil over a cartoon of BR Ambedkar in an NCERT text book and row over Home Minister P Chidambaram's statement in the Aircel-Maxis deal.
Carrying photocopies of the cartoon, members of BSP, SP, RJD, AIADMK and CPI rushed into the Well in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, forcing two adjournments of both Houses before lunch.
BSP members in Rajya Sabha raised the cartoon issue during Question Hour twice when HRD Minister Kapil Sibal was replying to a question relating to OBC students in IITs, IIMs and central universities.
Brajesh Pathak (BSP) demanded action against those responsible for publishing the cartoon, as his supporters shouted slogans like 'Dalit virodhi yeh sarkar nahin chalegi', 'Babasaheb ka yeh apamaan, nahin sahega Hindustan' (This anti-Dalit government won't continue, India will not tolerate disrespect to Ambedkar).
The agitated members demanded sacking of Sibal, who could not be heard in the din.
Amid uproar, the House was adjourned for about 15 minutes.
As BSP members shouted that they did not want to listen to a reply from someone who was responsible for it, D Raja (CPI) tabled a notice for a discussion on the issue which could not be taken up.
The Upper House was adjourned for a brief period again after it reassembled.
In the Lok Sabha too, similar scenes were witnessed as Thirumaa Valavan Thol (VCK) trooped into the Well waving placards claiming insult to Ambedkar in a cartoon in an Class XI NCERT textbook. BSP members raised slogans demanding dismissal of Sibal.
The House was first adjourned till noon and then till 2pm amid uproar.
The Lok Sabha also witnessed a row over Home Minister P Chidambaram's statement in the Aircel-Maxis deal when the House met for the day.
BJP members Yashwant Sinha, Shahnawaz Hussain and a few others were on their feet protesting Chidambaram reading out his son Karti's statement in the Lok Sabha yesterday.
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj sought to know from Speaker Meira Kumar as to how a Minister could read out his son's statement on the pretext of giving a personal explanation to the House.
"Instead of making a personal explanation, he read out a statement on behalf of his son and also invoked Jesus Christ. Why did the Chair allow the statement," she asked.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said Chidambaram was well within his rights to make a personal statement as Sinha had levelled "irresponsible and reckless" allegations against the Home Minister and his son.
He said Sinha had levelled the allegations against Chidambaram without giving a notice to him as per Parliamentary practice.
"The statement was necessary and no rules were flouted," Bansal said, adding that the BJP member had sought to link two separate matters that had happened in June and in October.
As Bansal was making his statement on Aircel-Maxis issue involving Chidambaram, Valavan was seen waving a placard and distributing copies of the cartoon among the members.
Later, when allowed to speak, the VCK member demanded Sibal's resignation triggering uproar which led to to adjournment of the House till noon.
When the House reassembled, members of BSP, AIADMK, CPI and SP again stormed the Well, waving copies of the cartoon and shouting slogans.
The members, alleging that "great disrespect" had been shown to Ambedkar, wanted withdrawal of the text book and removal of Sibal from the HRD Ministry.
The House was adjourned till 2pm soon after papers were laid.
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