Opposition creates uproar in Lok Sabha over attacks on Dalits in Gujarat

New Delhi, July 20: Virtually the entire Opposition in Lok Sabha led by the Congress today protested the attacks on dalits in Gujarat by raising slogans against the goverment during Question Hour.

As soon as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan read out obituary references, the Opposition raised slogans and demanded adjournment of the Question Hour to discuss the issue.

Barring AIADMK, members from virtually all opposition parties were on their feet raising slogans as questions were being answered in the Question Hour. Soon thereafter, Congress members trooped into the Well, with some members showing newspapers carrying stories on a recent incident in Gujarat.

The Speaker said the members were free to raise the issue during Zero Hour but she will not allow the Question Hour to be disrupted. Members of Congress, the Left parties, NCP, RJD and Trinamool Congress were seen raising slogans.

While most opposition members were standing near their benches, members from Congress were in the Well raising slogans like 'daliton pe atyachar band karo' (stop atrocities on Dalits), 'Gujarat model shame shame' and 'sarkar jawab do'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present in the House when the noisy scenes were being enacted. When Sugata Bose (TMC) asked a question on Nuclear Suppliers Group to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, some opposition members were seen asking him to sit down.

Refusing to relent, he asked questions on the hurdles created by China in India's bid to get NSG membership, which were responded to by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. BJD members were also seen standing at their places.

They were apparently raising the issue of Chhattisgarh's plan to build a dam on river Mahanadi. Later, TMC and BJD members staged a walkout around 11.30 pm. But the other opposition members continued to raise slogans during the entire Question Hour till noon.

PTI