Tempestuous start for Second Half of Budget session of Parliament

Parliament's second half of Budget session began on a tempestuous note here on Monday as members from various parties forced adjournment of Lok Sabha on various issues.

The issues came to the floor included incidents of rapes, heckling of mamata and demand for separate Telangana. Most of BJP members were seen in the Well raising slogans against the incidents of rapes across the country and demanding action on the perpetrators.

‘Delhi is not safe’ read a placard held by a Trinamool member which had a picture of Ms. Banerjee. Amid slogans of ‘Jai Telangana’, ‘take action against rapists’, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon. 

In Rajya Sabha, Chairman Hamid Ansari said he has got 8 notices for suspension of Question Hour to take up discussion on various matters. The notices were given by V Maitreyan (AIADMK), Derek O’Brien (TMC), Prasanta Chatterjee (CPI—M), Prakash Javadekar (BJP), D Raja (CPI), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Brajesh Pathak (BSP) and Maya Singh (BJP).

Mr. Ansari said he has admitted Mr. Maitreyan’s notice for discussion on role of CBI in coalgate scam as it was received first. As he asked Mr. Maitreyan to move his motion, Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) said he has also given a notice for suspension of Question Hour to raise the issue of “leakage” of draft JPC report on 2G scam. “You have not asked for suspension of Question Hour,” he told Mr. Prasad but the BJP leader continued to raise the issue. Left and BSP members too were on their feet raising separate issues with some of them displaying banners.

On demands for discussing the rape of a 5-year old girl in Delhi, he said it has been agreed that a short duration discussion on violence against women in various parts of the country has been agreed to be taken up at 2 p.m. later in the day. But, with members relenting, he adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

Before entering into the Parliament the PM Mr. Singh urged the members of opposition to cooperate and make it function well to finish the important financial business before the House. He also said, "There are also important Bills like the Food Security Bill, the Land Acquisition Bill, which require to be passed. And it is my sincere wish that the House should be allowed to function. If there are any concerns of the Opposition, we are willing to debate all those issues which worry the Opposition. Therefore my request to all members of the Opposition is to let the Government function. We have been put in this position by the people of India to deliver certain goods, and we hope that everyone would cooperate in that process: that the budget is passed, that essential business contained in other important Bills is also dealt with effectively."