New Delhi, Dec. 20 (PTI): Noisy scenes by the Congress members seeking an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks against his predecessor Manmohan Singh today marred proceedings in the Lok Sabha, which witnessed two adjournments and a walkout by the main opposition party.
However, after the Congress members walked out in the afternoon, the House took up legislative business.
The House was first adjourned till noon minutes after it had assembled for the day, the second adjournment till 2 PM came soon after the listed papers were laid. The Prime Minister was present in the House when it was adjourned for the first time.
As soon as the Speaker took up the Question Hour, Congress leaders raised the issue of the remarks made by Modi against Singh during the Gujarat election campaign. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan immediately adjourned the House till noon.
Modi was present in the House at that time as questions related to the Prime Minister’s Office are listed on Wednesdays.
When the House met at noon after the first adjournment to take up the Zero Hour, Congress members stormed the Well raising slogans and asking Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to allow their leader Mallikarjun Kharge to speak.
Unmoved by the pleas, the Speaker asked BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab to speak on the issue of formation of a tribunal to settle the Mahanadi water sharing dispute.
As Mahtab started speaking, the Congress protests continued, though on a low key. But as soon as BJP MP Poonam Mahajan started speaking, the slogan-shouting by the Congress members intensified.
“What is happening? Why I am not being allowed to speak,” Kharge was heard asking.
Kharge’s colleague K C Venugopal said Kharge should be allowed to speak “that is his right”. Another Congress MP Sushmita Dev shouted “We want Zero Hour”.
When Poonam Mahajan tried to raise the issue of a statement made by a former MP in a TV talk show in Pakistan that Modi should be removed as the Prime Minister and another by an opposition leader that PoK belongs to Pakistan, the Congress MPs protested strongly and raised vociferous slogans.
As the turmoil continued, the Speaker adjourned the House for about 40 minutes till 2 PM.
When the proceedings recommenced at 2 PM, Congress members again pressed for their demand for an apology from the Prime Minister. However, the Chair ordered taking up the Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill for consideration and passage.
Kharge also wanted the remarks made by a “certain member” against Manmohan Singh to be expunged from the records of the House but did not name the MP.
He said the Speaker had assured the Congress MPs that the remarks would be expunged but that had not happened. Following this, the Congress members staged a walkout.
The House then took up for discussion and later passed the Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill.
Later, Congress MP Rajiv Satav told PTI “We also wanted the remarks made by Poonam Mahajan against be expunged.”
The Congress has been raising the issue since Monday and demanding an apology from the Prime Minister for his remarks against his predecessor during the poll campaign.
