CBI raids, Arunachal cause ruckus in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, Dec 15: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Dec 15 witnessed a ruckus over CBI raids at the Delhi chief minister's office as well as convening of the Arunachal Pradesh assembly session by the governor, forcing four adjournments in the pre-lunch session.

When the house met after three brief adjournments, Janata Dal-United and Trinamool members raised the issue of CBI raids at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's office.

Members of the Congress protested against convening of the Arunachal Pradesh assembly session by Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa.

Chairman Hamid Ansari's repeated requests to the members not to disrupt question hour went in vain.

As the uproar continued, he adjourned the house till 2.00 p.m.

TMC member Derek O'brian raised the issue of CBI raids, alleging that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's office was targeted.

"This was unprecedented in the history of modern India," he said.

TMC members shouted slogans against the Narendra Modi government and trooped towards the chairman's podium.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley responded to the allegations.

He said the CBI raid was not against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, but against an official who was attached to his office, a claim rejected by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a lie.

Jaitley said: "CBI raid has nothing to do with Kejriwal and his tenure as Delhi chief minister. The raid was done against an official who was attached to his office and that too in a matter prior to his becoming chief minister."

Earlier, when the house met for the day, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad raised the issue of convening of the assembly session in Arunachal Pradesh.

Azad said: "Democracy is being murdered in Arunachal Pradesh. The governor is behaving like a dictator."

"Arunachal Pradesh governor has summoned the state assembly without consulting the chief minister or his council of ministers," he added.

Leader of the House Arun Jaitley said the proceedings of an assembly could not be discussed in the Rajya Sabha; it would set a wrong precedent.

"How the house can discuss about a state assembly? Conduct of a governor should not be discussed here," he said.

But Congress members trooped closer to the podium, shouting slogans.

The upper house witnessed repeated adjournments on these issues before adjourning till 2 pm.

The house was first adjourned for 15 minutes till 11.40 hours. And then till 12 noon.

When the house reassembled at 12 noon, Chairman Hamid Ansari tried to start the question hour and asked the agitating members not to come to the well.

The Congress, TMC and Janata Dal-United members shouted slogans from their seats.

Ansari adjourned the house till 12.30 and then till 2 p.m. as the ruckus continued.

IANS