Clashes echo in RS, force adjournment

Recent communal clashes in Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh and the sealing drive in Delhi today led to noisy protests in the Rajya Sabha, forcing two adjournments in the pre-lunch session.

While members of Samajwadi Party raised the issue of Kasganj violence, the newly-elected AAP members protested against the sealing drive in Delhi.

“Atrocities are being perpetrated against minorities in Kasganj... they are being suppressed... houses are being vandalised,” Yadav said, as his party colleagues joined him in vociferously raising the issue.

Though deputy chairman PJ Kurien asked the party to give a notice to raise the issue, the SP members kept raising the issue from their benches and then trooped into the Well.

Meanwhile, Kurien asked Rao to vacate the well and return to his seat, but the latter remained unmoved.

Kurien then asked leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad to call Rao back to his seat.

“What is he (Rao) doing? Can somebody do like this? Has he gone mad? Please call him (back to seat),” Kurien said and even threatened action against Rao.

Referring to the Kasganj issue, Kurien again asked the party to give a notice on the issue. “I cannot ask the government (to reply on the issue). It is up to them,” he said.

He said 15 members wanted to raise issues during the Zero Hour which are to be taken up.

As the protests by SP members continued in the well, he said “this is unbecoming of members to come and shout slogans instead of giving notice”.

Following this, he adjourned the house till noon as the sloganshouting continued unabated.

Communal violence had erupted in Kasganj on January 26 leading to the death of one person.

Friday was the third day of the budget session. On January 29, when the session commenced, the house was adjourned after the Economic Survey was laid. The house was adjourned on Thursday after the Union Budget was tabled.

NEW DELHI: