Vadra land deals: Rajya Sabha adjourned thrice

New Delhi, Aug 13: The purportedly illegal land deals of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra forced three adjournments of the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday as BJP members demanded a discussion on the issue. No business could, thus, be transacted in the pre-lunch session.

As soon as the house met at 11 a.m., Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members demanded a discussion on IAS officer Ashok Khemka's allegations in land deals involving Vadra.

The BJP's Prakash Javadekar had served notice, demanding suspension of question hour in the house.

Rajya Sabha Chairperson Hamid Ansari's repeated requests for maintaining order fell on deaf ears as BJP members continued their protests.

"Every single rule, every single etiquette is being violated. If the honourable members want this to become a federation of anarchists, then it's a different thing," said Ansari, who then adjourned the house till noon.

When the house met at noon, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley asked Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien to expunge Ansari's comments from the records.

Kurien, however, said that the chairman did not target any member and reserved his decision on the issue.

BJP members then again started shouting slogans calling Vadra a "thief".

"He is a thief, so what if he is a son-in-law," BJP members shouted.

Several Congress members were also on their feet rebutting the BJP's attack.

The house was adjourned for half-an-hour till 12.38 p.m.

The situation was no different when the house reassembled.

While BJP raised slogans attacking Congress and Vadra, Congress members shouted counter slogans.

The house was then adjourned till 2 p.m. amidst the din.

IANS