New Delhi: Members of Trinamool Congress and ruling BJP on Tuesday locked horns and were almost on the verge of physical clash in the Lok Sabha as a result of which the House could not transact any business in the post-lunch session.
Trouble started as the House met following a break after presentation of the Railway Budget at 2.10 PM with Trinamool members demanding roll back of fare hike announced recently and accusing the government of giving "nothing" to West Bengal which is ruled by the party. The uproar led to adjournment till 3 pm and then till 3.30 pm.
When the House re-assembled, agitated Trinamool Congress and AAP members trooped into the Well opposing the budget.
While Trinamool members were raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and the Railway Budget, BJP members raised counter slogans from their seats like 'abki baar Modi sarkar (this time Modi government)'.
Amid the war of slogans and counter-slogans, two BJP MPs rushed to the Well apparently accusing Trinamool members of disrupting proceedings.
A heated exchange of words ensued and members from the two sides came to the verge of a clash. A couple of marshals were also seen separating the members from the two parties.
Hukma Dev Narain Yadav, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House till 4.30 PM sensing the gravity of the situation as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prakash Javadekar, his senior M Venkaiah Naidu and Minister Kalraj Mishra rushed to calm the tempers. Some Congress members were also seen rushing to the Well to avert any ugly incident.
MPs rushing out of the Parliament after the reported scuffle
When the House again met after the adjournment, Trinamool leader Saugata Roy said BJP member Hari Narayan Rajbhar used "filthy language" against women members of TMC and "threatened" to beat them up when they were protesting in the Well against the budget.
This was objected to by the BJP members and an uproar followed. Roy, who wanted to raise a Point of Order for restoration of order in the House, was countered by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prakash Javadekar, who said people who disturbed the House were now complaining.
"We respect you (Trinamool members). But the issue is who disturbed the House... Those who disturb are complaining. Ask them to maintain order," Javadekar said.
There was also uproar when he said that people had elected BJP with a "massive majority". He went on to add that all 543 elected members are representatives of people and respected.
Later, agitated Trinamool members staged a dharna near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament House complex alleging that BJP members threatened to hit them and used objectionable language.
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee too slammed the BJP.
I received some information, what happened is unfortunate: Mamata Banerjee on reports of BJP-TMC scuffle pic.twitter.com/djgYrF9fgK
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 8, 2014Trinamool Congress to stage dharna in front of Gandhi Statue tomorrow against alleged misconduct of BJP MPs in Parliament.
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 8, 2014Trinamool Congress to raise the issue of alleged misconduct of BJP MPs in Parliament tomorrow.
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 8, 2014
