‘Won’t be intimidated,' Congress tells BJP as protests over ‘vendetta politics’ rock Parliament

New Delhi: Protests over "politics of vendetta" continued in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for the second day on Wednesday, with Congress members forcing two adjournments of the Rajya Sabha till noon by storming the Well and raising anti-government slogans.

Even before Deputy Chairman P J Kurien could take his seat when the House assembled for the day, Congress members rushed into the Well shouting anti-government slogans.

Mallikarjun Kharge led Congress' charge in the Lok Sabha, accusing the Modi-led government of 'intimidating' the opposition. 

"This is happening to the entire Opposition. If someone doesn't agree with you, you are trying to harass them. This is a move to intimidate. You will never be able to intimidate us," Kharge said referring to the National Herald case in Lok Sabha.

Venkaiah Naidu hit back at Congress, accusing them of 'threatening' the judiciary by questioning High Court's decision. 

'Congress is threatening judiciary. Government has no role behind court's ruling,' said Naidu in Lok Sabha. 

Meanwhile, in Rajya Sabha, BJD members also trooped into the Well carrying placards opposing the multi-purpose Polavaram irrigation project. The placards read "Polavaram will harm Odisha", "Condemn Polavaram. Stop Stop" and "We Oppose Polavaram."

Amid the din, Kurien got the listed papers of the day laid on the table of the House, but two of them to be laid by Congress members were not tabled.

Wansuk Syiem (Cong) did not move a petition signed by a Guwahati-resident praying for improvement and strengthening of non-lapsable central pool for resources (NLCPR) schemes in the North-Eastern Region, despite Kurien calling her repeatedly.

Syiem's party colleague Viplove Thakur also did not present the reports of the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy.

"Laying of papers is your duty," Kurien told Thakur after she did not return to her seat from the Well to lay the reports.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affiars Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Congress was insulting the mandate of the people and went on to suggest that the House should not be adjourned.

"Don't you know that displaying placards is not allowed," Kurien told BJD members. "Shouting slogan is also not allowed. Coming into well is also not allowed," he told the protesting Congress MPs.

He asked members to return to their places and allow the Zero Hour to proceed but no one heeded to his pleas, forcing him to adjourn the House.