Conversion heat in Rajya Sabha again

The Rajya Sabha witnessed heated protests over the conversion issue once again Tuesday, disrupting the zero hour.

As soon as the house met for the day, opposition members were on their feet protesting over the issue that stalled the upper house Monday.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury informed Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien that he had a copy of the circular asking some schools to remain open on Christmas.

Soon after papers were laid, the opposition MPs started raising slogans against the government.

Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Sharad Yadav said: "There are repeated incidents. No action is being taken by government, and you are asking us to just discuss it."

An angry Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi accused the opposition of "running away from discussion".

"Those who don't want to discuss can just leave," said Naqvi as he repeatedly said the government was ready to take up the debate.

"You are insulting the mandate of the people... they want disruption, not discussion," added Naqvi.

Members from the Congress and the Samajwadi Party then trooped near the chairman's podium. In the din, the house was adjourned for 15 minutes.

The scene remained the same when the house reassembled.

"The kind of comments the ruling party MPs are making, we cannot accept it," Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal said.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad again slammed the opposition for "running away from a debate".

Kurien repeatedly urged the members to calm down, and said: "Parliament is for discussion, not for shouting."

The opposition members, however, raised slogans near the chairman's podium, forcing the deputy chairman to adjourn the house till noon. - IANS