RS adjourns 4 times before lunch as Cong, BSP protest

New Delhi, Dec 14: Slogan shouting Congress and BSP members today forced four adjournments of Rajya Sabha in the pre-lunch session demanding dismissal of SAD-BJP government in Punjab over alleged atrocities against Dalit youths there.

Soon after a new member, Narendra Kumar Swain of BJD, took oath and Chairman Hamid Ansari read out obituary reference of an ex-member, Sharad Anantrao Joshi, BSP supremo Mayawati was on her feet raising the issue of alleged chopping off of limbs of two dalit youth at a farmhouse in Abohar.

With the Chair continuing with the listed business of getting papers laid on the table, slogan shouting BSP and Congress members trooped into the Well of the House.

They shouted "Dalit virodhi yeh sarkar nahi chalegi (anti-Dalit government will not be tolerated)" as well as slogans seeking dismisal of SAD-BJP government in Punjab. Amid the din, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made a suo motu statement on her visit to Islambad and recent development relating to ties between India and Pakistan.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affiars Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government condemns the incident in strongest possible terms and supports strict action being taken against the accused, but a state subject cannot be discussed in Parliament.

Law and order is a state subject, he said, adding that the state government has to be trusted upon for taking action against the guilty.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said Swaraj had made an important statement and he would allow clarifications to be asked on it.

But none heeded. "If you have any problem, you go to your seat. I will allow you to raise," he said. "Please go to your seat. Why are you doing this?" As his pleas went unheeded, he said "some members are hijacking the House".

"It is most unfortunate, undemocratic that few members are taking the House to ransom. You have no justification for doing it," he said, adjourning the House till 11.30 hours.

When the House reassembled, Congress and BSP members were again in Well.

PTI