For the fourth consecutive day, the Congress, angry over the court summons to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, stalled the Rajya Sabha on Friday by raising slogans and allegi
For the fourth consecutive day, the Congress, angry over the court summons to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, stalled the Rajya Sabha on Friday by raising slogans and alleging “vendetta politics”.
In the Lok Sabha, Congress members staged a walkout along with Trinamul Congress, RJD and JD(U) members after their demand for an apology from BJP MP Virendra Singh, who had allegedly made derogatory comments against Mr Gandhi, drew no assurance from either the Speaker or the government.
Even as the Congress is raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha, there are indications that the BJP is going to take up the case aggressively once the session ends. The ruling party is coming out with a booklet titled “Family Greed and National Blackmail” on the case.
The booklet, carrying a compilation of articles on the case, including by BJP leaders, has been prepared by the BJP parliamentary party office.
The booklet will be circulated to all its leaders, including MPs and leaders in states. Interestingly, BJP leaders have been asserting that neither the NDA government nor the ruling party is anyway involved in the case, as the Congress is hitting out saying that the legal case against its leaders is a “political vendetta”.
Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha began with chairman Hamid Ansari talking about the 14th anniversary of the December 13 terror attack on Parliament House.
Soon after, however, several Congress members trooped into the well of the House shouting anti-government slogans like “Modi teri tanashahi nahi chalegi, nahi chalegi (Modi’s dictatorship will not be tolerated)” and “Hitlershahi nahi chalegi (Hitler-like attitude will not be tolerated)”.
With members unrelenting, he adjourned the House till 11.30 am. But with similar scenes persisting when the House met again, he adjourned it till 12 noon. As the din continued, the House was adjourned again twice till 2.30 pm and was finally was adjourned for the day.
In the Lok Sabha, Congress members stormed into the well as soon as the House assembled for the day and began raising slogans against the government and holding up placards. An unfazed Speaker Sumitra Mahajan carried on with Question Hour before she allowed Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge to speak when Zero Hour began.
Mr Kharge said BJP member Virendra Singh has not only refused to apologise but also insisted that he stood by what he had said in his attack on Congress leaders.
As he continued, the Speaker disallowed him, saying he cannot raise the same issue again and again. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy hit back at Congress, saying its members have been continuously raising slogans and insulting even the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
TMC leader Sudip Bandhopadhyaya supported Mr Kharge, saying if the BJP member apologises, it would help in the smooth functioning of the House. He asked, “Why is this member getting support from the Government ”
Mr Rudy said the issue was just an excuse for Congress to disrupt the House. Congress then staged a walkout and was joined by TMC, RJD and JD(U) members.
Virendra Singh, member from Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh, had made the remarks in the House on Wednesday while participating in a discussion on drought situation.
Disapproving of his comments, Mahajan had expunged them but Congress has said it would not be satisified with anything short of an apology.
