Bisheshwar Mishra / NEW DELHI
Opposition Congress members stalled the proceedings in Parliament for the fifth day Thursday on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on former PM Manmohan Singh and other Congress leaders. In Rajya Sabha Opposition Congress also raised the 2G scam issue demanding clarification from Modi government on two issues now. As noisy disruptions continued and chairman Venkaiah Naidu was forced to adjourn the House for the day by 2.15 PM.
Lok Sabha too witnessd adjournments with Congress members demanding apology from PM modi’s remark against former PM which he (Modi) had made during his Gujarat election campaigns. LS, however, passed the Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill by voice vote after the Congress members had staged a walk out.
In the Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad upped the ante by asking PM Modi and his government to give clarification on two issues. He said other than clarifying on the charge made on Manmoahan Singh his party also wanted clarification on the 2G scam made against the Congress-lead UPA government.
“Until yesterday our opposition friends wanted clarification from PM (Modi) on his remark on Manmoahn Singh ji. But today morning a new development has happened, on which I on behalf of my party (Congress) and other Opposition parites want honorable prime minister to clarify on two issues.”
At this point noted film star and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachhan requested chairman to allow here to speak. She wanted to raise the issue of a man killing a school principal in Bangalore. “Sir give women also a chance to speak,” Jaya said. Naidu replied, “You did not ask for it…Let the leader of opposition (LOP) speak. The issue is of rules. You have to take the permission of the chair to speak.”
But Jaya insisted, “Sir I disagree.” At which chairman said, “yes that is the beauty of democracy. Agree to disagree and follow the rules.”
BJP MP and Parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Goel stood up charged the Congress of deliberately obstructing the proceedings of the House and not letting other MPs to speak on several other important issues.
Congress leader Anand Sharma asked, “is he the chairman?” at which chairman Venkaiah Naidu asked everyone to sit down and urged Azad to follow the rules. Azad then continued, “the second clarification we want on the basis of which we came from that side (Treasury) to this side (Opposition)..is about the 1,76,000 crore scam. He (PM Modi) must prove it here in his house…This was followed by loud protest from the treasury benches and chairman Naidu interjecting “ this is not the issue.”
Azad however continued, “where has it gone…that 2G scam?”
Chariman Naidu asserted, “I have not allowed this..this is not the way. This is not the way Parliament functions..Ghulam Nabi Azadji your are a senior member. You know the rules..This is not the way.”
Yet Azad continued “a false propaganda was carried out against the UPA members (Referring to the 2G scam. The Special CBI court hearing the 2G case had today exonerated all the accused in the case).
Chairman Naidu then stopped Azad from speaking saying he had not been given any prior notice on the issue. But the Congress members shouting slogans against BJP began trooping into the well. Naidu then quoted and order given by former chairman of the House Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma (also late former President), when faced with a similar situation in 1990.
But when the disruption continued, the chairman adjourned the House till 2 PM.
When the House resumed at 2 PM, the chairman Venkaiah Naidu took up the short duration discussion for which he called cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to speak, samajwadi Party MP Naresh Aggarwal raised a point of order. Naidu asked what his point of order was. “Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is a constitutional body. My question is can CAG give his report to the newspapers before tabling it in the House?” This was followed by disruption from the treasury benches. But Aggarwal continued “can any one be called corrupt based on the CAG report? And can inquiry be set up based on the CAG report?”
Chairman Naidu interjected, “this is not the issue. You have not quoted the rule.” To which Aggarwal said, “I am raising the rule. I was the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman where CAG’s objections 99.9 per cent were removed in the PAC. On the basis of his report the CAG brought disrepute for PAC. So can we call him (CAG) to the House? I want to know.”
Chairman then asked him to sit down saying, “I have noted. You suddenly raise an issue and expect me to give answer. This is not correct. Let’s take up short duration discussion by Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. He is speaking for the first time. Let us hear him. But disturbances continued.
Congress member and deputy leader of opposition Anand Sharma got up and said, “we the members are agitating from the beginning of the winter session on an issue which pertains to the constitutional offices and institutions if the present prime minister and former PM…”
Chairman Naidu quickly intervened saying “You have brought it to my notice. The matter is under discussion between Government and the Opposition. Please wait for the outcome. I have given an opportunity but you people have not come to consensus yet.
He again pleaded that Sachin Tendulkar who is a Bharat Ratna awardee be heard, but the opposition Congress members were in no mood to relent.
Finally chairman Naidu adjourned the house for the day.