Agencies

New Delhi, March 3:

Rajya Sabha proceedings on Tuesday were adjourned till 2 pm 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.

The House, 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 poll 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 44 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 pm.

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.