Congress forces brief adjournment of Rajya Sabha over Swamy's remarks

New Delhi, March 17: Rajya Sabha was on Tuesday adjourned briefly after Congress members created uproar over BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's reported remarks on demolishing mosques.

Soon after three-newly elected members took oath, Pramod Tewari (Cong) raised the issue saying securalism is the foundation of Indian democracy and charged Swamy of subverting it by his recent remarks in Assam.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said Tewari has given a Zero Hour notice which has been allowed and he can raise the issue then through such a mention. But the Congress members were not satisfied and moved into aisle shouting slogans against the BJP-led government.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the issue can be raised during Zero Hour. Kurien asked members to go back to their places and not raise slogans.

"You can raise it in zero hour. Chairman has already allowed it. Please go back to your seats, I am requesting," he told the Congress members who remained unrelenting.

They continued raising slogans "BJP ki gundagardi band karo, band karo (Stop high-handedness of BJP)." "This is indiscipline, don't behave like this. What is the use of shouting slogans," the Deputy Chairman said before adjourning the House for 10 minutes.

PTI