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Adamant on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's resignation, Congress forced three adjournments in the pre-lunch session of Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha failed to transact any significant business on Tuesday, the first day of the monsoon session as the opposition pressed for the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as also chief ministers of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh over various controversies.
While the Lok Sabha was adjourned immediately after it met for the day as a mark of tribute to a sitting member who passed away recently, the Rajya Sabha saw repeated adjournments with opposition members creating uproar, including by trooping into the Well of the House.
The government maintained that it was ready to discuss the controversy related to Lalit Modi in which Swaraj and Raje are under attack; the opposition insisted on resignations before any debate could be taken up in the House.
Amid war of words and slogan-shouting by the Congress members in the well of the House, the Bharatiya Janata Party accused the opposition of "running away" from a debate. Trouble started as soon as the Upper House met for the day and obituary references were made, with Anand Sharma of the Congress raising the matter related to the Lalit Modi controversy and demanded a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje are under attack for their links with Lalit Modi, the former Indian Premiere League chairman, who is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate in an alleged money laundering case. Sharma asked why Swaraj had requested the British government to issue travel documents to Lalit Modi two and a half months after the National Democratic Alliance came to power in June last year.
Sharma also raised the issue of affidavit signed by Raje favouring Lalit Modi. "The prime minister had assured to ensure transparency, accountability in governance and acting against those indulging in corrupt practices... Where is the probity left? You have violated the dignity," he said.
Amid objections from the treasury benches to his remarks, Congress members trooped into the well of the House. The Congress was joined by the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Samajwadi Party in its demand for resignations, leading to an uproar and five adjournments till 3 pm, when the House was adjourned for the day.
In the midst of pandemonium, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley withdrew the Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, over which the government had issued an ordinance in June.
While raking up the Lalit Modi issue, Sharma questioned the "humanitarian grounds" on which Britain was requested by Swaraj to issue the travel documents to him. The Congress leader alleged that Lalit Modi was travelling around the world as if "on a pleasure trip and as a tourist".
Jaitley, the leader of the House, said the government was ready for an immediate discussion and that Swaraj could make a statement on the issue. "Please start a discussion immediately. You don't want a discussion.... You don't have to press your case for a discussion. I am making an offer and would suggest ... if they want to start a discussion, then start it immediately. If they want a statement from the external affairs minister, we are ready for it. Sushma Swaraj will make a statement within five minutes," Jaitley said.
But Congress members continued to create an uproar.
CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said serious allegations have come up against ministers and chief ministers of states. He said that a discussion in the House was not a substitution to an investigation. "Let there be a high-level investigation and till the investigation is over, let these people demit office," he said.
Naresh Agarwal of the SP too said, "First they (Swaraj and Raje) should resign and only then can a discussion be allowedand the House can function."He said an entire session was washed out in a similar situation earlier when BJP was in opposition and did not allowthe House to run after allegations against some ministers."In Mathura, the PM, on completion of one year of his government, had said there is no allegation against any minister of his government. But now several chief ministers and ministers are under cloud," Agarwal said.
Criticising the opposition for the uproar, Jaitley said it was a "farcical" discussion on whether to have a discussion. "What are you discussing? Allow the motion and start discussion when the government has already supported it (motion for discussion)," he said.
As Deputy Chairman P J Kurien allowed Yechury to speak, Jaitley said, "Are you giving Sitaram Yechury a television opportunity?"
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi joined Jaitley, saying, "We are ready for a discussion." To this, Kurien retorted, "Simply because the government is ready to discuss, it is not necessary that the chair will allow it." He said the decision will be taken after listening to others and "Yechury is having the floor and nobody else".
Agarwal, while seeking permission to speak on the Lalit Modi issue, said his notice under Section 267 was accepted by the chair but House was adjourned due to disturbance when Anand Sharma started speaking. "There was no hearing," Agarwal said, as the ruling BJP members demanded starting of a discussion on the matter.
Kurien said, "I am not going to stop anybody. I have not allowed moving of the motion as I want to take a decision on the issue." He also chided the opposition members asking, "Why are you creating trouble?"
Yechury, while hitting out at Jaitley, said when the leader of the House was the leader of the Opposition during the United Progressive Alliance rule, at that time, in similar cases, an entire session was washed out.
Jaitley had then stated that a discussion in the House was "not a substitute for impartiality of people in allegation and they should not remain in position," Yechury said, charging the BJP with not adopting the same yardstick now when they are in the treasury benches.