AMN /
The Rajya Sabha today witnessed heated arguments between opposition Congress and the treasury benches over the continuous stalemate in the House over Lalit Modi controversy. Deputy Chairman Prof. PJ Kurien adjourned the House for the day as the Congress members trooped into the well shouting slogans.
When the House reassembled at 2.30 PM, Anand Sharma of the Congress objected to discussion on the Private Members Business. He said that there is continued stalemate in the House on the opposition demand for the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in the Lalit Modi controversy. He argued that no discussion will take place till the government comes with an amicable proposal to break the logjam.
Mr. Sharma charged the government with maintaining adamancy. Responding to this, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi accused the opposition of disrupting the proceedings. He said that the government wants to take the country on the path of development while the Congress is trying to take it towards destruction. As the din continued, Prof. Kurien adjourned the House for the day. Six private member bills were introduced in the House before the adjournment.
Earlier the House was adjourned twice in the pre-lunch period on the same issue. When the House met for the day, Naresh Agarwal of the Samajwadi Party raised the issue of a letter reportedly written by 30 BJP members to Chairman demanding action against Opposition members for disrupting the proceedings. Some of opposition members including D Raja of the CPI took strong exception and alleged that the ruling BJP is trying to pressurize the Chair.