Lok Sabha adjourned as Opposition raises farmers’ issue

New Delhi: The Opposition, led by the Congress, on Thursday did not allow the Lok Sabha to function over the issue of payment of minimum support price (MSP) for farmers across the country and the agrarian crisis, as they raised slogans and entered the Well of the House, forcing Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House for the day after two adjournments. Amid pandemonium, the House could only function for less than an hour.

The moment the Lower House assembled for the day, the Opposition MPs, led by the Congress, Left, Trinamul Congress, NCP and RJD, entered the Well shouting slogans highlighting the plight of farmers, even as Question Hour proceedings began. They were seeking the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response to the farmers’ plight and agrarian crisis.

Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar requested the Opposition members to allow the House to function, reminding them that when the Lok Sabha sat till late on Wednesday night to discuss the farmers crisis, only two members from the Opposition were present.

“You (Opposition) could have discussed the matter, but only two MPs were present... Therefore kindly don’t shed crocodile tears for farmers,” he said.

The Speaker adjourned the House for 18 minutes at this point till 11.30 am. When the House reassembled, the pandemonium continued as Opposition members re-entered the Well of the House and started shouting slogans.

As the unruly scenes continued, the Speaker appealed to the protesters to return to their seats and then adjourned the House till 12 pm.

However, when the House resumed to take up different issues during the Zero Hour, the Opposition members again came into the Well raising slogans.