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Parliament stalled on farmers’ issue

NEW DELHI: Practically no business could be transacted in Parliament on Wednesday as members of the Opposition entered the well in both Houses protesting the plight of farmers across the country.

In the Lok Sabha, members of the Rashtriya Janata Dal also trooped into the well, agitating against the attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra. The two Houses met twice in the pre-lunch session but the presiding officers ruled adjournment for the day after the second attempt to transact business proved futile. The Lok Sabha adjourned within two minutes of convening on both occasions; the second time after tabling the papers listed for the day.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee warned members that from Thursday he would take action against those who trooped into the well.

“I can only say that you are deliberately denigrating this country and parliamentary democracy. I am giving you notice. From tomorrow those members who come to the well of the House will suffer. This is a notice I am giving…from tomorrow do not expect anything.”

While the Rajya Sabha adjourned immediately after meeting in the morning for question hour, Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan refused to give in to the protests at first when the House met at noon.

Amid slogan-shouting by the Bharatiya Janata Party and Samajwadi Party members, the statutory resolution approving the Proclamation of President’s Rule in Nagaland as well as The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2007 was passed.

Mr. Khan repeatedly sought to remind the members that the House could not be taken for granted and that it was not a platform for agitation. He also made an attempt to take up a short-duration discussion on the recent attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra, but adjourned the House as slogan-shouting continued.

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