Rajya Sabha adjourned twice till noon
Our Correspondent
THE reported atrocities on Dalits in Una rocked Parliament today with opposition parties protested in both the houses accusing the state and central government for discrimination against marginalized community in the Gujarat.
As soon as House met, Congress, TMC, BJD, Left and other opposition members tried to raise the issue, but Speaker Sumitra Mahajan did not allow them suggesting to raise it during Zero Hour. Following this, the members trooped into the well shouting slogans against the government.
Amidst noisy scenes, Ms. Mahajan conducted the Question Hour. Later, expressing their dissatisfaction, TMC and BJD MPs staged a walk out from the House while Congress and other parties kept on sloganeering. Some Dalit youths were thrashed on suspicion of skinning a cow in Gujarat leading to several protests in the state.
In Rajya Sabha, as the House witnessed adjournments twice till noon today following uproar by Congress members over reported attacks on Dalits in Gujarat. As soon as the House met for the day to take up Zero Hour, Congress members trooped into the well of the House raising anti-government slogans. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien adjourned the House for ten minutes till 1120 hours. Congress members continued with their slogans when the House re-assembled.
In the midst of slogan-shouting, Social Justice Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot said the Gujarat government acted very fast in taking action. He said FIR was registered against those involved in the incident and some arrests were also made by the police. The Minister also assured financial assistance to those injured in the incidents. The House was later adjourned till 12 noon.
Meanwhile many parts of Gujarat today witnessed total strike in protest against the atrocities on Dalit youths in Una. Barring sporadic incidents of stone pelting in some parts of the state, the demonstrations by the Dalit community remained by and large peaceful.