New Delhi: Lok Sabha was adjourned twice today as a joint Opposition took on the government for its decision to extend the Lok Sabha by three days, terming the move “authoritarian”.

As soon as the House met for the day, the Opposition pointed to the decision to extend the Lok Sabha by three days, protesting that they were not consulted.

Raising slogans like ‘tanashahi nahin chalegi’ (authoritarianism will not be tolerated) and ‘Modi sarkar jawab do’ (Modi govt explain), members from Congress, the Left and TMC rushed to the Well.

Citing rules, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge demanded the intervention of the Speaker. As per the original schedule, Lok Sabha was to adjourn today. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs had yesterday decided to extend the session by three more days.

In the din, Kirit Somaiya (BJP) referred to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi’s remarks in the House yesterday in which he blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a decision not to procced with a food park plan in his Amethi constituency.

Though not much could be heard in the din, he said the decision not to go ahead with the project was that of the company and not the government. He said he has moved a privilege motion against Rahul for allegedly misleading the House on the food park issue.

Somaiya and some other BJP members raised slogans demanding an apology by Rahul, who was not present.

Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal was seen showing some documemnts to BJP members.

As the slogans and counter-slogans continued, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House for 15 minutes at 1115 hours when the Question Hour was underway. Her repeated pleas to members to listen to the Minister in charge of Ayush, Sripad Naik, on naturopathy went unheeded.

After the House resumed at 1130 hours, Opposition members were on their feet again seeking to know whether the House has been extended and around 20 of them trooped into the Well.

In between, two questions were taken up but as the ruckus continued, the House was again adjourned till 1200 hours.

Opposition members were heard shouting slogans like ‘Modi sarkar hosh me aao’ ( Modi government, come to your senses).

Rajya Sabha proceedings disrupted over demands for Gadkari’s resignation

Rajya Sabha proceedings were disrupted by repeated adjournments following uproar by Congress, demanding the resignation of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari following a CAG report alleging irregularities involving loan extended to his family-linked Purti group.
Slogan-shouting Congress members trooped into the Well demanding Gadkari’s resignation, forcing Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to first adjourn the House for 10 minutes and then again till 1200 hours.
As soon as the Question Hour began at noon, the Congress members came into the aisle raising slogans, this time seeking the arrest of Gadkari. This forced the Chair to adjourn the House twice again in quick succession till 1235 hours.

Rajya Sabha proceedings disrupted over demands for Gadkari’s resignation

Slogan-shouting Congress members trooped into the Well demanding Gadkari’s resignation, forcing Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to first adjourn the House for 10 minutes and then again till 1200 hours.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Shantaram Naik (Cong) said CAG in a report last week had stated that Purti Sakhar Karkhana Limited (PSKL) – a bagasse based co-generation project of the Purti Group in which Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Gadkari was once a board member did not meet conditions for availing interest subsidy from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

He said CAG has found that PSKL did not comply with the conditions for interest subsidy which stipulated that the renewable energy project was to operate for a minimum of 10 years after its completion.

The project, which was to be commissioned in February 2004, but finally commissioned in March 2007, in June 2009 over to 100 per cent coal-based operation as against up to 25 per cent allowed in the subsidy scheme, he said and demanded that “Gadkari has to resign.”

Anand Sharma said it was a very serious issue which cannot be confined to zero hour. “There has to be accountability.”

Kurien asked members not to obstruct Zero Hour business of others and said there was no scope for discussion.

“During Zero Hour, you cannot make an allegation against any member… For making allegation, there is rule,” he said and added “if any name is mentioned, I am expunging it.”He asked Congress members, who had moved into the aisles, to return to their seats. “For making allegations against members or ministers, there is rule. Do that. I am not allowing.”

But unrelenting members moved into the Well shouting slogans demanding Gadkari’s resignation. “This is indiscipline. This behaviour is unbecoming of members of Parliament,” he said before adjourning the House for 10 minutes