A united opposition on Wednesday protested the government's move to extend Rajya Sabha proceedings for a day alleging that the Centre took a unilateral decision without the consent of the opposition parties.

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Opposition MPs protested outside the Parliament and also raised slogans inside the House.

Protests over Citizenship Amendment Bill

The proceedings were also marred due to ruckus led by Congress over the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Slogan shouting Congress members trooped into the well of the House protesting against the bill that gives citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from neighbouring Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

They were supported by TMC members who moved into aisles. Deputy Chairman Harivansh called members to raise matters of public importance during the zero hour but nothing could be heard in the din.

Anand Sharma (Cong) said the entire North-East is on fire as the legislation would effect the security and safety of the region. He demanded that Home Minister come to the House and make a statement assuring that the Bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, will not impact the integrity of the country.

The Bill, he said, is "sending out dangerous message." Harivansh repeatedly asked members to return to their places but his pleas went unheeded. 

Protests over extension of Rajya Sabha

The government on Monday asked the Rajya Sabha chairman to extend the winter session by a day till January 9 to enable government business, including passage of the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill 2019 that seeks to introduce provisions for reservation for economically weaker sections. Chairman Naidu approved the extension by a day.

As the proceedings began on Wednesday, Minister of State (MoS) for Parliamentary Affairs, Vijay Goel said the government took the decision to extend the functioning of the House by a day as there were important bills to be passed.

Congress MP Anand Sharma said that the decision was not right as it was taken without the consent of the opposition parties.

"The way the House proceedings were extended without the consent of the opposition parties was not right. The situation now is such that there is no dialogue between the opposition and government. The government is foremost responsible if the House doesn't function," Sharma said. 

Speaking amid the din, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, "The country expects the House to function. As per normal working days, we should have been working, on most of them the House stood adjourned. There is one extra day to consider legislations."

On Tuesday, during meetings with Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, opposition leaders raised objections over the manner in which the extension was done without consulting the political parties.

Sources said members raised objections inside the House over the manner the government "unilaterally" took the decision without taking political parties into confidence.

Leaders of all parties in Rajya Sabha moved near Mahatma Gandhi's statue and raised slogans against the government.

The sources said Naidu first discussed the issue with opposition leaders before the start of the House proceedings and then with the leader of the house Arun Jaitley.

(With PTI inputs)