AMN /
Opposition protests over dalit killings in Punjab rocked the Rajya Sabha proceedings today. It was fifth day today when the House could not transact any legislative business. Last week, it was National Herald issue, on which opposition Congress was agitating, and today it was atrocities on dalits in Punjab which disrupted the proceedings in the House. When the House re-assembled at 3 PM after five adjournments, the Congress and BSP members trooped into the well demanding the dismissal of Punjab government. The House was adjourned for the day.
Treasury benches wanted discussion and passage of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2015, stressing that the issue raised by the opposition members pertains to dalits and the passage of the Bill is the only way this House can do justice with the issue. Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the Congress is keen to pass the bill but it cannot be in the din. There must be order in the House. He assured the members that the bill will be passed in this session itself. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said if the opposition is keen to cooperate why not to pass the bill today.
Deputy Chairman Prof. P J Kurien urged agitating members to cooperate in passing the bill. He said it is the same dalit issue for which they are agitating. Earlier, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thavarchand Gahlot moved the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2015 and urged the Chair to pass it without discussion in view of its importance. In the morning, when the House met for the day, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made a statement on her recent visit to Islamabad in connection with Heart of Asia Conference there. The Minister made the statement when the House was witnessing furore by the Opposition over dalit killings in Punjab.