Conversion issue: Rajya Sabha again disrupted, adjourned for day

New Delhi, Dec 22:

The logjam in the Rajya Sabha over the conversion issue continued Monday leading to repeated disruptions and eventually the house’s adjournment for the day as the opposition once again demanded a debate and a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Samajwadi Party (SP) member Naresh Agarwal said he has submitted a notice to suspend all work and take up the debate.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, however, said that the notice cannot be admitted since the issue has already been raised once.

“…the debate is inadmissible since the debate has been taken up once,” said Jaitley.

Members had slammed the government for not fulfilling its promises but going ahead with the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ agenda.

“They promised they will give farmer one and a half times returns for their input cost, they promised bringing back black money, and creating jobs. None of this was done but they are going ahead with reconversions,” said SP’s Ram Gopal Yadav.

He was joined by other members, including Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav and Left leader Sitaram Yechury.

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien said: “We are not running away from a discussion. We want a discussion on the issue of conversion. We want the PM to come to the house”.

Congress leader Anand Sharma, meanwhile, said: “Opposition is not running away from a debate, it is the prime minister, who is shying away resulting in the deadlock.”

Opposition members then trooped near the chairman’s podium, displaying placards and shouting slogans.

SP members were also seen raising slogans demanding government bring back black money.

Members of the Congress and some other opposition parties meanwhile raised slogans like: “No PM, no house.”

As protests continued, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien adjourned the house till noon.

The scene remained similar when the house met for question hour at noon.

Chairman M. Hamid Ansari first adjourned the house for 15 minutes, and then till 2 p.m.

In the post lunch session, the government tried to take up a bill for regularisation of unauthorised colonies in Delhi. However, opposition did not allow it.

The house was adjourned till 3 p.m., and finally for the day. (IANS)