A R DAS / NEW DELHI
The imposition of President’s rule in Uttarakhand rocked Rajya Sabha for the second day today with the Congress stalling the proceedings of the House demanding a discussion on the issue.
The House witnessed repeated adjournments amidst arguments between opposition and ruling benches on the role of Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker.
Congress members continued sloganeering against the government forcing the Deputy Chairman Prof. P J Kurien to adjourn the House for the day.
Earlier in the day, Anand Sharma of the Congress raised the issue and said that his party had given notices to take up discussion on the political developments in Uttarakhand.
When the House re-assembled at 3 PM, Law and Justice Minister D V Sadananda Gowda moved two bills the Appropriation Acts (Repeal) Bill, 2015 and the Repealing and Amending (Third) Bill, 2015 for consideration and passing. He said the two bills were passed earlier by Lok Sabha.
The Minister’s plea for passing the two bills by voice vote was rejected by Congress members, who were in the well raising slogans against the government.
Countering the opposition allegations on imposition of Central Rule, Leader of House Arun Jaitley said the government in the Hill State should have resigned immediately after the finance bill was defeated.
He said the real breakdown of Constitutional machinery in Uttarakhand was due to the decisions of the Presiding Officers to convert majority into minority and minority into majority.
He said the government is not allowing discussion saying that the matter is sub judice. BSP leader Mayawati also demanded a discussion on Article 356 saying it is being misused by various governments at the Centre.
Earlier, Left members referred to the developments in the Jawaharlal University demanding a discussion in the House.