Stormy start for budget session as RSS row rocks Houses

NEW DELHI, FEB 24: The budget session of Parliament on Thursday got off to a stormy start with the RSS-government staff controversy rockin...

NEW DELHI, FEB 24: The budget session of Parliament on Thursday got off to a stormy start with the RSS-government staff controversy rocking both houses of Parliament which could not transact any business after a vociferous opposition demand for an adjournment discussion was disallowed by the chair.

By the end of the day, presentation of the railway budget on Friday appeared to come under a cloud as the Congress gave notice that it was in no mood to "relent" on its fight in Parliament on the issue. Right at the start of the day’s proceedings, the Congress and the other Opposition parties kicked up a row over the Gujarat Government decision allowing its employees to join RSS AND demanded that the Question Hour be suspended for enabling a discussion on the issue. They maintained that the Gujarat decision was an assault on the secular principles of the Constitution and the republic.

While Congress members in the Lok Sabha pressed for admission of their adjournment motion, in the Rajya Sabha the Opposition members demanded suspension of the Question Hour for a discussion straightaway.

Story continues below this ad

Members belonging to Samajwadi Party and BSP in the Lower House rushed to the well and shouted slogans in support of their demands. Within minutes both houses were adjourned till lunch. Speaker G M C Balayogi told the Congress members that their notice for adjournment motion has been disallowed. The adjournment failed to bring peace in both houses as similar scenes were re-enacted after lunch forcing adjournment for the day. The Subramanyam report on Kargil intrusions was tabled in the melee in the Lok Sabha.

Sonia Gandhi led a party delegation to Balayogi later to express the sense of "great hurt and anguish" of the Opposition on the manner in which the adjournment motion was "treated". The Congress also held a dharna in Parliament precincts with Sonia Gandhi leading a sit-in by party MPs near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in protest against the Gujarat Government decision.

Tejashwi’s Bihar election promise — ‘Will bin Waqf law if INDIA bloc comes to power’

Cities42 min ago

Tejashwi Yadav, leader of RJD, vows to revoke Waqf Act in Bihar if elected, citing it as a threat to Constitutional equality. He criticizes CM Nitish Kumar for aligning with BJP and RSS and emphasizes the need for development in Seemanchal region. Yadav accuses BJP of using agencies to intimidate him and promises job creation for all households in Bihar.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS