NEW DELHI: Congress today disrupted Parliament over Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa, alleging that efforts are being made to “destabilize” the party’s state government; even as the Centre said an “Emergency-like situation” was being witnessed there.
The party forced repeated adjournments of Rajya Sabha over the issue while in Lok Sabha, its members, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, staged a walkout.
Alleging “murder of Constitution and democracy”, the Congress members in both Houses demanded the dismissal of the Governor.
Raising the issue in Lok Sabha, Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge said that despite Congress having two-thirds majority, it is very “unfortunate that unconstitutional attempts are being made to throw out the government.”
He said, “Efforts are being to destabilize and elected government to bring in a non-Congress government,” he said.
When Kharge talked about the Governor’s role, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked him not do so, saying rules do not permit raising of a matter related to a state.
Parliamentary Affairs Minster M Venkiah Naidu also said the conduct of a Governor cannot be discussed in Parliament this way.
“The (Arunachal Pradesh) Speaker has disqualified 14 MLAs. It’s an Emergency-like situation there,” Naidu said.
In Rajya Sabha, Congress members trooped into the Well and shouted slogans like “stop the murder of Constitution in Arunachal Pradesh and Dismiss Arunachal Governor.”
Chairman Hamid Ansari made a vein attempt to take up the Question Hour. But as the din continued, he adjourned the House till 12.30 pm.
Similar scenes were witnessed when the House again met. Objecting to the slogan-shouting, Ansari told Deputy Leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha, “This is Question Hour time Sharma Sahab. You have had your say in the morning. Got ample opportunity.”
The Chairman persisted with the Question Hour. Two questions were taken up in the din. But soon the Congress members trooped into the Well. Answari requested the agitating Congress members not to come into the Well but his plea remained unheard.
As the din continued, the Chairman adjourned the House till 2 PM.
Similar scenes prevailed when the House re-assembled, forcing adjournment till 3 PM, but not before Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar made a statement on the recent Climate Change Summit in Paris.
When the Rajya Sabha met again at 2 PM, Pramod Tiwari (Cong) raised the issue of the Arunachal Governor, which was objected to by Deputy Chairman P J Kurien who said the members will have to move a substantive motion for any discussion on it.
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the rule says that one cannot abuse the Governor but Tiwari was just stating what had happened. “It is not abuse,” he argued.
CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said his colleague has moved a substantive motion for the discussion on the same issue.
To this, Kurien said only the Chairman has the power to allow or disallow the substantive motion.
In the meantime, the Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill, 1992 was withdrawn.
As the protests continued, Naidu asked the opposition to make it clear whether they want the Parliament to run or not.
“Democracy is being murdered”, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said, as he requested the opposition to let the House function.
The House was then adjourned till 3 PM. When the House re-assembled, Congress members again started raising slogans like ‘Loktantra Ki Hatya Band Karo (stop murdering democracy)’ and rushed into the Well.
Amid din, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot moved the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2015 for consideration and passage.
He said it was important bill for the welfare of SCs and STs and suggested it could be passed even without discussion.
However, the Congress members did not yield and kept shouting slogans.
Congress leader Anand Sharma said the party wants to pass the bill but only when there is order in the House.
To this, Kurien said Sharma should ask his party members to return to their seats.
The Bill, which has been passed by the Lok Sabha, seeks to amend the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Earlier in the day, Azad had said that he wanted to give at least one undertaking that SC/ST Amendment Bill, which was listed, would be passed in this very session and after a proper discussion.
Due to continuous ruckus, the Deputy Chairman adjourned the House for the day some minutes after 3 PM. -PTI
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