Centre, Opposition in massive Rajya Sabha row

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed three adjournments in the pre-lunch session after the treasury benches accused the Opposition, mainly Congress, of “misusing” adjournment motion for the benefit of television cameras and stalling proceedings to disallow a BJP member from raising latest evidence in the Samjhauta blast case. 

Leader of the House and finance minister Arun Jaitley also demanded that the remarks of Congress MP Anand Sharma, referring to President Ram Nath Kovind’s speech, be expunged, while Opposition members asked the Chair to expunge Mr Jaitley’s remarks against them.

As soon as the House met in the morning, Samajwadi Party’s Naresh Agarwal, through a point of order, sough clarification whether the government has decided to scrap the newly-launched Rs 2,000 note and introduce a Rs 1,000 coin. 

Some other Opposition MPs also tried to raise some issues through a point of order, to which the BJP’s MPs objected, saying that a few members do not give chance to their fellow members by unnecessarily raising point of orders. 

That’s when Congress’ Anand Sharma said that the NDA government was making efforts to slight Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and even Indira Gandhi.

“Every country and society respects nation builders… and that has been the culture in India. Gandhi is respected and has the highest stature in the nation. Along with him was Jawaharlal Nehru who also went to jail... Gandhiji was compared to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay yesterday,” said Mr Sharma. 

Deputy chairman P.J. Kurien disallowed Mr Sharma’s notice but Mr Jaitley objected to the Congress member’s remarks, saying adjournment notices were being “grossly abused” for publicity.    This led to vociferous protests from Congress MPs.

Amid the protests, Mr Jaitley said, “In every case, we have found these are not issues under the motion of Rule 267 and, therefore, it is a practice which is being grossly abused... the Chair must also be guided by a principle that you cannot have a Zero Hour for the benefit of TV cameras. That is what’s happening today... This has all been enacted.” He demanded that Mr Sharma’s remarks be expunged.

Apparently referring to party member Subramanian Swamy’s zero hour mention on Samjhauta blast case, Mr Jaitley said some other members have also given notices and the Chair must protect their rights. He also insisted that rules do not allow references being made in the House to those who hold high constitutional positions.

“Anand Sharma’s whole speech has to be expunged. Reference to a high constitutional authority is not allowed in the House. What is the purpose of dragging... we know the spirit of what you are saying,” Mr Jaitley said, accusing the opposition members of raising issues for the TV cameras.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the government was trying to insult leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru who had fought for India’s Independence.

“The centenary of those people are being observed who had no connection with the freedom struggle. They are doing ‘pick and choose’,” he alleged.

Prof. Kurien said all notices under Rule 267 were being rejected but the Chair has to first listen to the member to take a decision.

As DMK’s T. Siva said he was “hurt” by Mr Jaitley’s remarks that issues were being raised for TV publicity, to which the finance minister said, “Every day what is not point of order is raised as point of order knowing fully that you are violating the rule... None of us were born today that we don’t realise each other’s games. We know this noise is being created only because some members want to raise the issue of Samjhauta case. We know that. Don’t provide an alibi.” 

If members want to raise the issue of Samjhauta, they should be allowed, he said, adding, “Don’t deflect the issue.”

Congress members then entered the Well, raising slogans and forcing a brief adjournment of the House till noon. When the House re-assembled for Question Hour, the Opposition members demanded expunction of Mr Jaitley’s remarks that adjournment notices were being “misused” for publicity. 

As the Opposition members remained adamant, Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the House for 10 minutes. The House was again adjourned for 10 minutes as leaders of several parties discussed the impasse over the issue in the Chairman’s chamber.

Mr Ansari later said the records will be examined to arrive at a conclusion.