Rajya Sabha fails to transact business again

The Rajya Sabha failed to transact business for the third consecutive week since the begining of the monsoon session on July 21, as slogan-shouting and disruptions marred its functioning on Friday as well.

The upper house was adjourned for the day after heated arguments between opposition Congress and the treasury benches over the stalemate in the house over the Lalit Modi and Vyapam scam issues.

The Congress, supported by some other opposition parties, has been demanding the resignations of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje over their association with the former Indian premier League chairman, while Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is embroiled in the Vyapam scam controversy.

Post-lunch, the house met for taking up the private members' business.

As private members' bills were introduced, Congress leader Anand Sharma stood up and said there can be no discussion.

"While the introduction is alright, there cannot be discussion for resumption of business," he said.

The Congress leader said many members were not present in the house assuming there will be no business.

"...this house has been in a stalemate and the government is unrelenting when it comes to finding a meaningful solution... It is because of the government's stubbornness and arrogance," Sharma said amid the din.

"Unless the issues we have raised are addressed, there will be no discussion," he said.

Sharma accused the government of adamancy.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi accused the opposition of disrupting the proceedings.

"The government wants to take the country on the path of development while the Congress is trying to take it towards destruction," Naqvi said.

As the din continued, Kurien adjourned the house for the day.

Six private member bills were introduced before the adjournment.

Earlier, the house was adjourned twice in the pre-lunch sesion.

Soon after the house met in the morning, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien allowed papers to be laid and then permitted Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal to speak.

He raised the issue of a notice given by 30 MPs of the ruling National Democratic Alliance to Chairman M. Hamid Ansari on Thursday, requesting him to take action against Congress parliamentarians for disrupting the proceedings.

Agarwal said: "The Congress is opposing the dictatorial attitude of the ruling party and all opposition is with them."

"The notice given to the Rajya Sabha chairman is an attempt to pressurise him," he added.

The Congress members shouted slogans against the Narendra Modi government.

Amid the din, Kurien adjourned the house till noon.

When the house reassembled, it again witnessed uproarious scenes. However, Chairman Hamid Ansari tried to conduct question hour but did not succeed.

Agarwal again raised the issue of the notice given by the 30 MPs.

Agitating Congress members again indulged in slogan-shouting against the Modi government, like 'End dictatorship, end Modishahi'.
Amid noisy scenes, Ansari adjourned the house till 2.30 p.m. - IANS