Agencies

New Delhi, March 09:

Amid noisy protests by Opposition members over the rising fuel prices, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned multiple times on Tuesday, leading to adjournment for the day in the afternoon.

When both Houses met again at 2 p.m. after repeated adjournments, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day after about five minutes while the Rajya Sabha called it a day after ten minutes.

In the Lok Sabha, a number of Congress members trooped inside the Well, raising demand for a rollback of the high fuel prices. DMK members were on their feet. However, Trinamool Congress members were seen maintaining restraint.

Congress floor leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that the Opposition was being ‘blacked out’ from the Lok Sabha livestream. Speaker Om Birla, in a rhetoric vein, asked him if he wanted the “ruckus” to be aired for the public to see.

When the Lok Sabha reassembled at 1200 hrs after the first adjournment, Opposition members started raising slogans against the fuel price hikes and rushed to the Well. The Papers were laid on the table of the House amid uproar. Meenakshi Lekhi, who was in the Chair, then adjourned the House till 1400 hrs. The House was adjourned for the day within minutes of being reconvened as the ruckus over rising fuel prices continued.

In the Rajya Sabha also, Opposition members, mainly from the Congress, began raising slogans. At this, Deputy Chairman Harivansh appealed to Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge to bring the House in order.

Satish Chandra Mishra of Bahujan Samaj Party, Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena and Tiruchi Shiva of DMK proposed suspension of work under Rule 267.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had made his provision on Rule 267 on Monday which cannot be revisited without the Chair’s permission, Mr Harivansh said.

Meanwhile, the Opposition members rushed out of their seats and started sloganeering. The Rajya Sabha was first adjourned till noon for about 40 minutes and then again till 2 pm after Opposition members continued to raise slogans and demanded a reduction in the record high prices of petrol and diesel and holding of a discussion on the issue.  Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu disallowed the notice seeking a debate on the issue which was moved by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge. Congress members were joined by other Opposition members and stormed into the Well while insisting with their demand for a discussion.

When the House met at noon, Deputy Chairman Harivansh urged the protesting members to take their seats and allow the Question Hour to function. He said since the chairman has already disallowed the notice, it cannot be reopened.

The Opposition members continued to protest and raise slogans against the government. Amid the continued slogan-shouting by the opposition, the DMK’s Tiruchi Siva said the issue of high petrol and diesel prices has to be discussed. The Rajya Sabha was finally adjourned till Wednesday amid sloganeering by the Opposition members over rising fuel prices.