Ruckus in Parliament over land ordinance, opposition tears agenda copy

New Delhi: Opposition members on Thursday created ruckus in Rajya Sabha when the government sought to give reasons for re-promulgating ordinance on land acquisition, with a Trinamool Congress member tearing a copy of the agenda paper and throwing it into the Well.

Minister of State for Rural Development Sudarshan Bhagat laid a statement, which explained the circumstances that necessitated immediate legislation by promulgation of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rahabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015.

Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh, who was in the House in the morning, had left minutes before Bhagat laid the statement.

Members from Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party vociferously opposed the statement.

Derek O'Brien (TMC) was seen prompting Congress members also to rise in protest.

Samajwadi Party members shouted slogans like "the anti-farmer government won't be allowed to continue" and trooped into the Well. They were joined by Trinamool members.

Trinamool member Nadeem ul Haq tore a copy of the agenda paper and threw it into the Well. He said that he would do the same with the bill if brought to the house.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad wanted to speak on the suicide by a farmer here yesterday but could not do so because of the din.

His party colleague J D Seelam rushed into the Well asking the agitating opposition members there to allow the Leader of Opposition to speak. As the ruckus continued, Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

The ordinance was re-promulgated on April 3, a day after the previous one lapsed. The fresh ordinance, which is the 11th by the Narendra Modi government, incorporates nine amendments that were part of the bill passed in Lok Sabha last month.

The previous ordinance could not be converted into an Act in the first half of the Budget Session due to stiff opposition in Rajya Sabha.