The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Ansari pulls up treasury benches for disrupting RS
IT WAS the treasury benches, including some Union Ministers, who disrupted proceedings in Rajya Sabha Thursday, prompting chairman Hamid Ansari to remind them of the “well-established practice” that allows leaders of both sides to speak whenever they wish to do so.
The proceedings opened in the morning with Trinamool Congress MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy talking about over 100 people who are reported to have died after demonetisation. BJP members from the back benches assembled on the steps and started to protest.
When Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad rose to speak, Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu interrupted him and accused the Opposition of disrupting the House every time someone from the treasury benches tried to speak.
“Sir, who will protect us? Members come here in front of me. They don’t allow me to speak. Are we so helpless?... We have the mandate of the people. We have not done anything wrong,” said Naidu. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Minister of State, Parliamentary Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi too got on their feet.
“Honourable ministers cannot be agitating,” said Ansari. After some order was restored, Ansari addressed Naidu. “Venkaiahji, there is a well-established practice in this House that when both Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition wish to speak, they are allowed to do so,” said Ansari.
He then told the treasury and Opposition MPS to “stop this crossfire”. “How can the treasury benches be agitating?” said Ansari.
When he could finally start his speech, Azad talked about the Opposition demand for an obituary reference to reported deaths following demonetisation.