New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Wednesday, following repeated adjournments throughout the day, with the Opposition refusing to let go of their demand for revocation of the suspension of 12 members, and the Chair refusing to relent.
Within minutes of the House assembling at 3 pm, following the third adjournment, the Opposition members started demanding that Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge be allowed to speak.
However, Rajya Sabha Vice Chairperson Bhubaneshwar Kalita of BJP, who was presiding, said that Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who had been speaking on the Dam Safety Bill 2019 earlier, be allowed to finish his speech. However, the Opposition members started a chant of “We Want LOP,” and refused to allow the House to function.
“Let the House be in order first. Whatever is happening is not for the good of the House, you have to understand the glory of the House and should maintain decorum. If you go this way, it is not sending a good signal to the public,” Kalita said.
When the Opposition persisted with their demand that LOP Kharge be allowed to speak, the Vice Chair said, “I can allow the LOP, but let there be order in the House. The Minister (Shekhawat) has not been allowed to finish his speech.”
He urged the Opposition members to return to their seats, but they kept up their chant, demanding the LOP be allowed to speak. With the ruckus continuing and the Opposition refusing to relent, the Vice Chairman then adjourned the House till Thursday, to meet at 1100 hrs.
Earlier, LOP Kharge was not allowed to speak by Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Narayan Singh, when the House met at noon, after the first adjournment. LOP Kharge was raising the demand for revocation of the suspension of 12 members by the Chair on Monday for their ‘misconduct’ on August 11, the last day of the Monsoon Session.
As Kharge of Congress was disallowed to speak, the Opposition members protested loudly, leading to the House being adjourned repeatedly. The Rajya Sabha was earlier adjourned till 12 noon, and when it met at noon, it was adjourned for the second time till 2 pm. After it met at 2 pm, it was again adjourned till 3 pm, and finally, for the day. Chairman Naidu has refused to revoke the suspension of the 12 members, while Leader of the House Piyush Goyal has demanded that the suspended members must apologize.
