As members target ‘absent’ Modi, Rajya Sabha fails to get work done

Oppn wants PM to reply debate on communal incidents

the opposition stuck to its demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi be present in the House during the discussion and reply to it.

The contentious short-duration discussion on rising incidents of communal violence in the country could not take place in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday as the opposition stuck to its demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi be present in the House during the discussion and reply to it.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu has communicated to opposition leaders that while Modi is scheduled to be present on Thursday to answer questions, he will not make a statement on the issue. But with opposition members adamant on a statement, it will be interesting to see what modifications — if any — they make to their “PM lao, House chalao (bring the PM, run the House) slogan when Modi is in the House.

Meanwhile, when the House reconvened on Wednesday after a stormy pre-lunch session, tempers ran high in the opposition as well as the treasury benches.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj read out a statement on the terror attacks in Peshawar and Sydney. Even before deputy chairman P J Kurien had announced the commencement of the discussion, CPM’s P Rajeeve, whose name was listed as one of the speakers, invoked the “rich tradition of the House when Jawaharlal Nehru used to rush to the House to hear A K Gopalan speak”. He then demanded that Modi be present in the House during the discussion on communal violence and reply to it.

However, it was when Derek O’Brien stood up to open the discussion that all hell broke loose. The Trinamool MP used the name of a once-popular gramophone company to describe the PM, much to the chagrin of the treasury benches. The name of the company was subsequently removed from the records. “There are nine parties, 140 MPs. I know this discussion has been moved by me. But it is very clear; we speak in one voice… We can only see his selfies. But does he need a visa to come here? He is free to come here. Let the PM come,” he said.

The remarks brought BJP’s Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, J P Nadda and Piyush Goyal to their feet to protest against the use of “unparliamentary” language.

As the protests intensified, pleas from JD(U)’s Sharad Yadav that the House be in order so that members can hear each other fell on deaf ears. Addressing Kurien, Rajeeve said, “Sir, as per Rule 255, you have suspended a member from the House. I request you to invoke some rule to invite the PM to this House… This is the need of the day.”

Story continues below this ad

Several others, including CPI’s D Raja and DMK’s Tiruchi Siva, also demanded Modi’s presence. When Kurien tried to move to other business, opposition members entered the well to protest. The Anti-Hijacking (Amendment) Bill 2010 was withdrawn in the din. Since nothing was audible, Kurien was forced to adjourn the House for the day.