Moga molestation, TRS protests stall House

The Opposition led by the Congress on Tuesday forced two adjournments in Rajya Sabha demanding a discussion over the death of a teenaged girl in Moga in Punjab after being allegedly molested and thrown off a bus owned by the ruling Badal family.

When the House met for the day, Ambika Soni of the Congress raised the issue saying there was a complete breakdown of law and order in Punjab, necessitating the Centre’s intervention.

Other parties, including the Left joined in the protest with Bahujan Samajwai Party’s Mayawati demanding the imposition of President’s rule in the state.

The demand for a discussion on the issue was strongly opposed by Akali Dal members, forcing Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to adjourn the House for 10 minutes. Opposition continued to vociferously press their demand when the House reassembled, forcing another adjournment till noon.

Soni said the situation in Punjab merits direct intervention of the Centre as law and order has broken down. Anand Sharma of the Congress termed it as a very serious issue and the House should condemn the incident.

Kurien said no notice on the subject has been given. “I am not saying anything about merit of what you are saying. All I have said is please give notice.”

Communist Party of India-Marxist’s Sitaram Yechury said the chair should allow some matters that come up so urgently. “Because of the importance of the incident, please allow us to discuss.”

Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the matter needed to be discussed as the bus belonged to a company run by senior government functionaries.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the state government had taken immediate action against the culprits and it was not proper to discuss the working of state governments in the House. “If you want to discuss various issues, give a notice,” he said.

Kurien said he has two notices for suspension of business under rule 267 on separate issues and wants to dispose of them first.

Soon after the notices were disallowed after the movers spoke briefly, Opposition was again on their feet raising the Moga incident.

Mayawati said no action has been taken against the real culprits. “Life and property of women in Punjab is in danger... President’s rule should be imposed,” she said.

Kurien, however, insisted that a notice be given seeking a discussion on the issue. But opposition members were unrelenting and moved into the aisles shouting slogans, forcing adjournment.

Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha was also adjourned twice amid protests by Telangana Rashtra Samithi members demanding an immediate creation of a high court for Telangana, even as the government said the matter is pending before court.

As the House met for the day, the members started protesting and trooped into the Well with placards.

Amid the ruckus, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked the agitating members to go back to their seats and stop showing placards. “Please don’t show all these things (placards)... They are not allowed,” Mahajan said and also cautioned that action could be taken against the members.

With the protests continuing, the House was adjourned during Question Hour, first for 10 minutes and then again for 30 minutes till noon.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the government was in favour of setting up a high court for Telangana but the matter was pending before the court.