RS uproar over naming Opp. leaders

A united Opposition on Thursday forced Chairman Hamid Ansari in Rajya Sabha to reconsider the decision to name 22 members in a House bulletin for “gross disorderly conduct” and “wilfully” obstructing proceedings a day before.

The Opposition parties, along with SP and BSP, came out in support of TDP and BJP, against this “new practice” of naming members in the House bulletin for disrupting proceedings, which led to three adjournments and walkout by the BJP, Shiv Sena and AIADMK.

As the House met in the morning, BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu raised the issue by saying such naming of members had never happened even when members from the ruling parties tore women’s reservation bill. Denouncing the move, Mr Naidu said: “This is an insult and discrimination against main Opposition party. This is infringement of our rights. I don’t know if it has happened with your ( Chair’s) knowledge.” Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley said the expression of protests by several sections of the House had never figured in RS bulletin. To this, AIADMK, SP, BSP, Left, JD( U) and later DMK members also protested against the move. Though the Chair said the issue can be discussed in his chamber, it did not pacify the BJP, which staged a walkout. The House was adjourned till noon.

At noon, AIADMK, CPI( M), SP, BSP JD( U) and AGP did not allow further business saying it was not good that the House runs without the presence of the main Opposition party.

SP, AGP and AIADMK members stood in protest. Members from BSP and JD( U) were also on their feet. As din continued, prof. Kurien adjourned the House till 2 pm.

When the House reassembled, no BJP member was present. Parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath asked the Chair to “reconsider the matter”. He also asked the Opposition to come back. Following this, BJP members returned.