Congress stalls RS over Modi's 'Dalit' remarks

In an unusual move, members from the ruling Congress on Friday trooped into the well of the Rajya Sabha and forced its adjournment, agitated over not being allowed to raise the issue of certain remarks made by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi about Dalits.

Senior Congress member Praveen Rashtrapal wanted to raise the issue during Zero Hour but was denied permission by Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan, who said the notice has not been admitted by the chairman.

Joined by Congress members J D Seelam, Alka Balram Kshatriya, Ishwar Singh, M A Khan and others, an agitated Rashtrapal stormed the well of the House, insisting he be allowed to raise the matter.

Rashtrapal was heard saying Modi has 'humiliated' Dalits and B R Ambedkar. Sensing the mood of the treasury benches, Khan adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

During that brief period, Congress members were seen discussing the issue with Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prithviraj Chavan. They also went to Chairman Hamid Ansari's office.

When the House resumed and Khan called Communist Party of India - Marxist P Rajeev for his Zero Hour mention on corruption charges in the home ministry, Rashtrapal was at it again.

As he and his party colleagues started marching towards the well, the deputy chairman adjourned the House for the second time, till 2 pm.

Later, talking to reporters outside the House, Rashtrapal said he has been denied the opportunity to raise the matter despite repeated attempts.

"The entire world knows about Modi. In his statement while releasing a book Samajik Samrasta on April 26, he had said Ambedkar was not a revolutionary. Modi also compared Dalits to mentally retarded children," he said, adding that he will raise the issue again on Monday.