With the Congress and the BJP in an all-out war on the controversial AgustaWestland helicopter deal, deputy leader of Congress Anand Sharma on Friday alleged that a Union minister has termed the Rajya
With the Congress and the BJP in an all-out war on the controversial AgustaWestland helicopter deal, deputy leader of Congress Anand Sharma on Friday alleged that a Union minister has termed the Rajya Sabha as “Agusta House”. However, this prompted Chairman Hamid Ansari to say “we do not need a certificate from anybody”.
The issue was raised by Mr Sharma during the Question Hour. “Day before yesterday, we had a debate in this House. An honourable minister of this government said that the other House is honourable and this House is Agusta House. That one is August and this is Agusta,” Mr Sharma alleged. However, Chairman of the House refused to give importance to the matter. “Everybody is part of this House. This House has its own dignity. We do not need a certificate from anybody,” Mr Ansari said.
Talking to agencies later, Mr Sharma said he was told that a minister has made such remarks. “That is an insult of the House. So I asked the chairman, who is the custodian of the House to take a serious note of it and take appropriate action,” Mr Sharma said.
After the Congress members trooped into the Well raising anti-government slogans protesting against “assault on democracy” the Rajya Sabha was adjourned briefly in the pre-lunch session.
The Congress, which came to the House at noon after a protest march at Jantar Mantar, trooped into the Well raising slogans like ‘Modi teri tanaashahi nahi chalegi (Mr Modi’s autocratic rule will not do)’. Deputy chairman P.J. Kurien repeatedly asked them to return to their seats, but to no avail. BJP member Vijay Goel, who was called to raise his Zero Hour mention, said he cannot speak amidst the slogan shouting.
As sloganeering continued, Mr Kurien adjourned the House a few minutes before noon.
Anand Sharma, during the Question Hour, said senior leader of his party including Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had been arrested. “We were protesting against assault on democracy,” Sharma said as Congress members continued raising slogans in the Well.
