House adjourned amid din over fuel price hike
NEW DELHI: Rising fuel prices under the Narendra Modi government continued to rock both the Houses of Parliament during Budget session for the second consecutive day. The Congress and other Opposition parties launched protests, demanding a debate on the issue and forcing frequent adjournments.
The second part of the Budget session commenced on Monday.
The Upper House could not transact any substantial business as it first witnessed an adjournment at around 11.20 am till noon and another one till 2 pm. When the Rajya Sabha reassembled at 2 pm, the Opposition continued to demand a discussion on the rising fuel prices even as Deputy Chairman Harivansh, who was in the chair, appealed to the protesting members, including those in the Well, to return to their seats.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a debate on the issue. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, after moving the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill 2021, insisted on taking it up. The bill seeks to replace an ordinance in this regard and has already been passed by the Lok Sabha.
The deputy chairman called Congress member Vivek Tankha to speak on it but the latter urged him to listen to Kharge first, saying, “How can I speak when the Leader of Opposition is standing?” Kharge continued to press for a discussion on the fuel price hikes and demanded that the rates be brought back to the 2013-2014 levels.
Senior Congress MP Anand Sharma said according to the tradition in the House, no government bill is taken up when the opposition is demanding a discussion over an important issue. “Opposition has a right to take up the issue,” he said as several opposition members kept raising slogans demanding a discussion on the rising fuel prices.
Amid the uproar, the deputy chairman adjourned the House for the day. Harivansh said since the chairman has already disallowed the notice, it cannot be reopened. The Lok Sabha, too, failed to transact any legislative business for the second consecutive day.
After two adjournments due to disruptions caused by opposition members, mainly from the Congress who were protesting rise in fuel prices, the House was adjourned for the day a little after 2.00 pm.
During Question Hour around 11.00 am, Speaker Om
Birla had to adjourn the House till 12 noon following protests over the rising fuel prices.
During the Question Hour, Opposition members, mainly from the Congress, entered the Well and started raising slogans.
Proceedings were adjourned for the second time till 2 pm amid protests by Opposition members over the same issue.
When the House reconvened at 12 noon, various papers and reports were laid while the protests continued.
Several Congress members were in the Well, demanding a rollback of the fuel price hikes. DMK members were seen standing at their seats while Trinamool Congress (TMC) members did not protest. As the protests continued, Meenakshi Lekhi, who was in the Chair, adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm.
When the House reconvened at 2 pm, several opposition members continued to raise the issue.