From the gallery

Interjection
“Today we are talking about nuclear tests. Lakhs of years back, Sage Kanad had conducted a nuclear test. All other sciences have been dwarfed before our ancient astrologers. Astrology is the number one science for the entire world.”
Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank BJP MP, while participating in a debate on the School of Planning and Architecture Bill, 2014.

Watching
PRIME MINISTER
Present in Lok Sabha; was there for an hour in the morning. Sat through Question Hour, though no questions were directed at him
RAHUL GANDHI
Not present; on a two-day visit to Rae Bareli and Amethi
SONIA GANDHI
Present; entered during Question Hour when the House was adjourned for six minutes. Sat though the afternoon
MANMOHAN SINGH
Present; attended in the morning

Debate
Both Houses saw disruptions thanks to the Opposition parties creating a ruckus over Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti’s comments made at a public meeting earlier in the week. Trouble started as soon as the Houses met for the day at 11 am with members of parties like Trinamool Congress, Congress and RSP shouting slogans. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi present in Lok Sabha, opposition members vociferously pressed for a statement from him. Jyoti, too, was present. BJP members strongly objected to this demand. Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the matter had ended as Jyoti had already apologised and the Prime Minister has disapproved of her comments. But that did not assuage the protesting MPs from Congress, TMC and Left, who staged a walkout. Normalcy restored in the House Zero Hour onwards.

Sitaram Yechury, CPM
Que: On the stalemate over Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti’s remarks in Parliament
How long will the blockade of Rajya Sabha continue?
That is up to the government. The ball is in their court. Our point is that what she has said in the House is not an apology. And even if you accept it as an apology that means she has accepted she has violated the Constitution. She is a Union minister under oath of the same Constitution. Hence she cannot continue to remain in the cabinet.

But it is not everyday that a minister expresses regret for his or her statement. Why is the Opposition not willing to accept that?
Tendering an apology does not absolve a person of the crime he or she has committed. There are two rulings of the Supreme Court and one of the Calcutta High Court which have said so. So the law is clear. The government, however, has been belligerent and on the offensive. It has not been reasonable.

But a middle ground has to be found? Is the demand for her resignation or sacking non-negotiable?
It is the job of the ruling party to end the stalemate. The BJP knows this better than anyone. They have to device a way to end the stalemate. Speak to us individually or collectively, whichever way they prefer. What they have to offer they should come and say.

That means, you are willing to talk and find a way out. So is there a scope for a middle ground?
Has the government offered anything so far? They haven’t. The scope depends on the government. How they want to react. Her continuance is untenable. Let’s hear what the government has to say. At the moment we are continuing with our demand. If they react let us see what they are saying.

The issue clearly has brought the opposition together. We can see the coordination on the floor of the House. So has the parties been talking and planning a common strategy?
We have been talking, but not in a structured way. On the floor of the House everything is happening. Like before the House begins and during adjournments we all have been talking to each other.    — MANOJ C G