Lok Sabha proceedings disrupted yet again

Lok Sabha proceedings were repeatedly disrupted on Monday as the opposition once again raised the Lalit Modi and Vyapam issues, even as the speaker tried to conduct the business of the house.

When the house met in the morning, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan seemed determined to run the house whereas the opposition was equally resolute in disrupting the proceedings.

Members of the opposition parties, specially the Congress, moved near the speaker's podium and began shouting slogans demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the two issues.

The members holding placards shouted slogans like "We want justice" and "PM jawab do (PM should reply)". They also wore black bands.

Mahajan asked the opposition members not to show placards and tried to conduct the Question Hour.

The first adjournment came 15 minutes into the Question Hour when the speaker, finding it difficult to conduct the proceedings, adjourned the house till noon.

When the house re-assembled at noon, the unruly scenes were repeated but a number of papers were tabled in the house. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley introduced the Negotiable Instruments Bill amid the din.

After conducting the Zero Hour, during which whatever was said was inaudible most of the time, the speaker adjourned the house till 2 p.m.

At 2 p.m., when Law Minister Sadanand Gowda moved the Delhi High Court Bill, the disruptions by the opposition reached a peak and Congress member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary was seen banging a placard on the speaker's table.

Even Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi was at one atage seen standing in protest near the aisle.

The speaker adjourned the house again till 4 p.m. while angry BJP members walked into the speaker's chamber.

At 4 p.m., Mahajan named Chowdhary for disrespecting the chair.

Even after this episode, members of the opposition trooped near the speaker's podium and again began shouting slogans, though without carrying placards.

Mahajan then adjourned the house for the day. - IANS