Absent MPs cause collapse of proceedings during ‘Q’ Hour

In a record of sorts,proceedings in the Lok Sabha collapsed on Monday for absence of as many as 28 members who had raised questions.

Speaker Meira Kumar was forced to adjourn the House till 1200 Hours after taking up three questions as members,who had raised the questions,were not present in the House.

Leader of the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee as also Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal were seen surprised when members belonging to various political parties,including Congress,were absent after giving notices for the questions.

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The Speaker called out names of 28 members,including Varun Gandhi (BJP),Madhu Goud Yakshi,Eknath Gaikawad,Shruti Choudhary,B Jhansi Lakhsmi (all Cong),Anandrao Adsul,Shivaji Adhalrao Patil (Shiv Sena),Prabodh Panda (CPI),Rajiv Ranjan Singh (JDU) and Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM),but none of them was present.

Altogether 17 questions were not taken up for want of members.

The proceedings were taking place amid protests by members of Left parties and Samajwadi Party criticising the government’s move to send a Central team to assess the law and order situation in West Bengal.

A Central team has reached West Bengal to assess the law and order situation in the wake of persistent demands by the Trinamool Congress. The state has witnessed an upswing in Maoist violence as well as clashes between Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) workers.

Uproar in Rajya Sabha

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Rajya Sabha witnessed two adjournments during the pre-lunch sitting following uproar over Centre sending a team of officials to West Bengal to assess the situation in the state after a spate of violence.

Left parties,supported by Samajwadi Party and AIADMK,termed the move as “unconstitutional” and demanded immediate withdrawal of the Central team.

Soon after nominated member Ashok Ganguly took oath,Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said he has given a notice for suspension of Question Hour as the move to send the Central team was in “violation of the Constitution” and federal structure. “This will not be tolerated.”

Supporting him,Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley said the UPA was sending the team perhaps under pressure from its allies — a reference to Trinamool Congress. The Home Minister,he said,should come and explain the position.

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Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prithviraj Chavan tried to pacify the the agitated members saying he would convey the sentiments of the members to the Home Minister.

Left party members were not satisfied and rushed into the well of the House,forcing Chairman Hamid Ansari to adjourn the House for 15 minutes.

When the House resembled,Left members rushed to the well,ignoring pleas by Ansari to go back to their seats and let Question Hour be taken up.

As the din continued,Ansari adjourned the House till 1200 noon.