Delhi Violence: Both Houses Adjourned After Opposition-BJP Spar

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha proceedings on Tuesday were adjourned till 2 p.m after Opposition and Treasury benches indulged in a war of words over alleged hate speech by Union Minister Anurag Thakur in the run-up to Delhi Assembly polls and the violence in the national capital.

Lok Sabha proceedings, too, were adjourned till noon, amid uproar over the issue of Delhi violence as Opposition members sought an immediate discussion on the matter. It met at noon but adjourned again till 2 pm.

Rajya Sabha, which could not transact any business on Monday due to Opposition uproar over the Delhi violence, witnessed disruptions again.

Trouble broke out when Thakur, who has been under Opposition attack over his alleged hate speech during the campaign for the Delhi Assembly polls, was called to lay listed papers pertaining to his Finance Ministry on the table.

As Thakur, the Minister of State for Finance, rose to read a one-line statement laying listed papers on the table, he was booed by Opposition benches.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal rose to defend Thakur but this only resulted in heated arguments between the two sides.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said no comments or slogans will go on record.

But the Opposition and ruling members continued to clash with Congress, Left and other opposition parties raising the issue of the communal violence in the national capital that has left at least 46 dead.

As heated arguments continued, Naidu said he would have no option but to adjourn proceedings if members did not want to run the business.

However, heated exchanged continued forcing Naidu to adjourn proceedings till 2 p.m.

Before adjourning, Naidu said this was the reason why he had not immediately agreed for a discussion.

Thakur was the third listed minister to lay papers and eight reports of parliamentary standing committees relating to different ministries, which were listed to be presented, could not be laid due to the uproar.

In Lok Sabha, as soon as the House met for the day, members from the Congress, DMK and other Opposition parties were on their feet, demanding a discussion on Delhi violence.

Speaker Om Birla told agitating members that issues can be raised during the Zero Hour and wanted to take up the Question Hour.

As the ruckus continued, the proceedings were adjourned till noon.

Meanwhile, Speaker Om Birla chaired a meeting on Tuesday with the floor leaders of all parties to end the lock jam over the Delhi violence issue and told them to resolve the matter otherwise he would be forced to take action.

He warned that a repeat of what happened on Monday could lead to serious consequences.