Rajya Sabha adjourned amid Opposition protests

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day after Opposition MPs staged protests over multiple issues, including paper leaks and alleged irregularities in the Ayodhya Ram Temple land acquisition. Chairman C P Radhakrishnan criticised the disruption amid continued sloganeering

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Friday shortly after meeting at 11 am, amid sloganeering by Opposition MPs.

As proceedings began and papers were laid on the table of the House, several Opposition members were on their feet, demanding that Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge be allowed to speak.

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Chairman C P Radhakrishnan criticised the Opposition, saying it was still in “Emergency mode”.

“You are in Emergency mode till today. You want everybody to listen, but you don’t want to listen to anyone. This is dictatorship. You don’t want to value democratic values,” the Chairman said.

“You must also listen to others. Every time I am yielding to the LoP, but you are not listening to others,” he said.

Chairman C P Radhakrishnan later permitted Kharge to speak but ruled that no notices under Rule 267 would be admitted after the Leader of Opposition sought to raise some issues under the provision.

The LoP’s notice under Rule 267 pertained to the alleged misappropriation of funds and irregularities in land acquisition for the Ayodhya Ram Temple.

Opposition MPs raised slogans against the government over paper leaks and also demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah come to the House.

The Opposition has been seeking a statement from the Home Minister on the alleged use of force against protesting students on July 20, including the use of pellet guns, and has also demanded his resignation over the issue.

The Chairman, however, said, “What does the Home Minister have to do with the Zero Hour?”

As Opposition members continued to raise slogans, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused them of indulging in “sadak-chhap (cheap)” politics and “playing with the dignity of the House”.

“They’re doing sadak-chhap politics, playing with the dignity of the House. Democracy is being destroyed… They only want to create a ruckus, they don’t want a discussion,” he said.

Even as the Chairman allowed members to raise the issues listed for the Zero Hour, the Opposition continued to raise slogans, including against the alleged donation theft at the Ram Temple.

Opposition MPs were heard raising slogans, including “Chanda Chor ki Sarkar Nahi Chalegi” and “Chanda Chor Gaddi Chhor”.

The Chairman adjourned the House for the day amid the din. The Upper House will meet again on Monday, August 3.