Oppn disrupts RS for third consecutive day

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the third straight day on Wednesday amid protests by Congress and Trinamool Congress members over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft Assam list that excluded 4 million residents of the northeastern state who had sought inclusion in it.

As soon as the House assembled, Congress MP Anand Sharma demanded that certain comments made by Bhqaratiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah during a discussion on the NRC a day earlier be expunged.

Shah had said the Assam Accord signed by the then PM Rajiv Gandhi in 1985 with organisations campaigning for the identification and deportation of illegal migrants in the state was the “soul of the NRC” and unlike the previous Congressled United Progressive Alliance (IUPA) regime, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had the “courage” to implement it.

Sharma said Shah had dubbed all PMs who had succeeded Gandhi as cowards, adding that the BJP’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee, too, was one of his successors.

Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he would examine the records, calling upon Shah to complete his statement that was interrupted on Tuesday.

But the angry members did not let Shah speak, forcing the Chair to adjourn proceedings until question hour.

Before adjourning the House, Naidu said, “I was so upset yesterday as members rushed menacingly to the well. I felt something would happen to my secretariat…Please allow the House to function.”

Trouble erupted after the House reassembled post-lunch, with Trinamool members disrupting proceedings.

Trinamool’s Sukhendu Shekhar Roy raised a point of order as the Chair asked Shah to conclude his speech.

Roy said, “Here, in this case, one honourable member has already spoken. How can he speak twice?”

Soon Trinamool MPs stormed the well of the HOuse even as Naidu said he had allowed Shah to speak.

As the protests continued, Venkaiah Naidu said, “Are we at the mercy of one party (Trinamool)… You create disorder and raise a point of order.”

Shah said he was ready to let go of the opportunity to speak if it caused so much fear.

“I know why they (opposition) do not want me to speak,” Shah said, urging Naidu to ask home minister Rajnath Singh to make a statement.