Ruckus by Opposition leaders to adjournment of Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: Slogan shouting by Congress and heated exchanges between them and the treasury benches over issues like appointment of Governors to Bihar and Himachal Pradesh without consulting Chief Ministers led to adjournment of Rajya Sabha till noon today. What added fuel to the fire was remarks of Leader of the House Arun Jaitley that it was Deputy Chairman P J Kurien's responsibility to bring the House to order.

Trouble broke out when Congress members, who were shouting anti-government slogans in the Well, began to withdraw to allow K C Tyagi (JD-U) to speak on his motion under rule 267 seeking suspension of business to discuss the appointment of Governors without consulting states, with the BJP members objecting to it.

"You can't have the House conducted in a manner in which Government is not allowed to speak," Finance Minister and Jaitley said. "It is unfortunate in the way House is being conducted. It's your responsibility."

With the ruling side vociferously objecting to floor being given to Tyagi without a guarantee that the Government's response will be heard without disruption, Jaitley said it was the responsibility of the Chair to "safeguard" the interest of the government.

His remark led the Congress members to rush to the Well again, raising slogans against the government.

Jesudasu Seelam (Cong), holding a banner that read "Implement Special Status for AP State", marched angrily towards the treasury benches. He showed his banner to the BJP members as Deputy Chairman P J Kurien adjourned the House till 1200 hours. Earlier, no sooner had the House met for the day, Congress and JD-U members were on their feet raising different issues.

After Kurien managed to get the listed papers laid on the table amidst the din, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said an impression was being created in the last 2-3 days that Parliamentary Affairs Minister had spoken to him and Congress leader in Lok Sabha to end the stalemate over Lalitgate and Vyapam scam.

"I want to categorically state that there was no meeting. But he did make phone call which was not to end stalemate but to discuss the expulsion of 25 of our colleauges in Lok Sabha. It had nothing to do on this subject of ending the stalemate. It want to make this very clear," he said.

Azad said no solution to the issues on which Rajya Sabha has not been able to function for past three weeks has been forthcoming from the government. On top of it, three chief ministers of north eastern states said they were not consulted on the "historic" Naga peace accord. "Even Nagaland Chief Minister has said he was taken unaware (about the accord)," he said.

The government "shredded the concept of cooperative federalism to pieces" when it appointed Governors to Himachal Pradesh and Bihar without consulting the state chief ministers, the Leader of Opposition said.

And yesterday, he said the Prime Minister used such language for Congress and other opposition leaders that was "unbecoming" of him. "What kind of language is being used,” Azad said. No sooner had he finished, Congress members rushed in to the Well raising anti-government solutions. Jaitley wanted to respond but was not allowed by Congress members.

Kurien said the treasury benches had heard Azad in silence and now opposition parties should listen to the government. "This is indecent behaviour, it is hitting below the belt," the Deputy Chairman said.

Refuting Azad's statement, Jaitley said the Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states had first welcomed the Naga peace accord but withdrew under "pressure" from their central leadership.

While he did not comment on the change of Governors in two states, the Finance Minister said the government has held talks with opposition leaders to end the stalemate in Parliament and it was a decision of the Congress not to allow House to function.

Kurien then called Tyagi to speak on his motion seeking suspension of business, but the JD(U) leader was unable to speak as Congress members raised loud slogans from the Well. However, when Congress members started to withdraw from the Well to allow Tyagi to speak, Jaitley again got up to say that you cannot have the House conducted in a manner in which government is not allowed to speak. Kurien too said the House was a property of all.

"Selective block is not acceptable. I have never seen such a practice. Selective blocking is not acceptable," he said.

Tyagi could barely speak when Jaitley again got up to say that it was responsibility of the Chair to safeguard government interest, leading to all hell breaking lose. Kurien then adjourned the House till 1200 hours.