Congress demands discussion on MPs’ suspension, forces LS adjournment

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 25

Lok Sabha was in uproar on Tuesday after Congress protested suspension of six Parliamentarians and BJP leaders’ controversial remarks against Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia, forcing Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House for the day.

When the House assembled at 3 pm, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar to table the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2016 — a proposed law that makes NIT, Andhra Pradesh, an institute of national importance — but Congress’s floor leader Mallikarjun Kharge insisted on discussing two issues in the House — the suspension as well as ruling Bharaitya Janata Party’s allegations that its leader Jyotiraditya Scindia was anti-Dalit.

Kharge said that the central government felt “troubled” in the house and demanded that the suspension should be revoked.

Congress and opposition parties were also demanding a discussion on the lynching incidents in the country in the name of cow protection.

Scindia said BJP MPs Veerendra Kumar and Nandkumar Singh Chouhan had accused him of having insulted Dalits  and said that if the statements were found true, he would quit the House.

"My image has been tarnished," Scindia said.

Kharge, the Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, defended Scindia and said the Guna MP has been fighting for the well being of the Dalits in the House over the last 15 years.

As Congress members, including Scindia, Kantilal Bhuria, K C Venugopal and Ravneet Singh Bittu, rushed to the Well, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she was trying to accomodate everyone by allowing them to ventilate their concerns.

However, members from the Treasury Benches also vociferously responded to the Congress charge, leading to a ruckus in the House.

Anguished over the unruly scenes, the Speaker said: “If you are bent upon creating a ruckus, how will the House run? I have told you to raise your concerns under the rules. Don't try to teach me (how to run the House)".

Kharge  accused Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar of trying to "pour petrol into the fire".

Following scenes of chaos, the House has been adjourned until Wednesday.

Six Congress Members of Parliament were suspended on Monday for disrupting the House.

BJP leaders have claimed that Scindia reportedly “purified” a hospital that was inaugurated by a Dalit MP from the BJP last week with water from the Ganges and re-inaugurated it. 

Scindia has sent Nandkumar Singh Chauhan, BJP’s chief of Madhya Pardesh unit, a notice demanding unconditional apology for “casting aspersions” on him. (With inputs from PTI/Agencies)