Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday were adjourned for the day after Congress members in the House disrupted a commotion over the political developments in Karnataka. The House was first adjourned till noon, then till 2 pm. It was adjourned for the day within minutes of proceedings resuming after lunch.
Both the Houses of Parliament were scheduled to discuss the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last week.
Congress MPs Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and K Suresh moved an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha over the political crisis in Karnataka, ANI reported. Congress MP BK Hariprasad moved an adjournment motion notice in the Upper House over the same matter.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said in the Lower House that “poaching politics should be stopped forever”.
“You [the ruling party] say you have no role in [destabilising government] in Karnataka,” the Congress leader said. “But when an MLA comes out of Raj Bhavan, there is a car ready for him, when he is at the airport, there is an aircraft ready for him.” Congress MPs protesting against the situation in Karnataka staged a walkout.
“Whatever is happening in Karnataka right now are the Congress’ internal matters,” ANI quoted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as saying in Parliament. “But the Congress is not able to resolve these internal matters, and in addition, they are also trying to disrupt the Lower House.”
Later in the day, Congress MPs once again chanted slogans against the BJP. They were joined by Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi.
The BJP has issued a three-line whip to its Lok Sabha MPs, asking them to be present in the House on Wednesday, ANI reported.
“I am not really able to respect the budget,” Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP A Raja said in the Lok Sabha during a discussion on the Union Budget, PTI reported. You gave the budget...But what are all the assurances given in the budget? In order to achieve the assurances there is no roadmap at all.”
Rajya Sabha
In the Rajya Sabha, Congress members stormed the well of the House as proceedings started at 11 am, shouting slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Opposition party accused the BJP for stoking the political crisis in Karnataka’s coalition government, which is run by the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular).
Members of the Trinamool Congress also crowded around the well over a matter related to West Bengal, which forced Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the House.
As proceedings resumed at 12 pm, Naidu rejected Congress leader BK Hariprasad’s notice under Rule 267 to suspend listed matters and take up the political turmoil in Karnataka. “I am not allowing it,” PTI quoted the vice president as saying.
BJP MP RK Sinha submitted a Zero Hour Notice in the Rajya Sabha over the delay in punishment for crimes against minor girls, while Peoples Democratic Party MP Nazir Ahmad Laway gave a Zero Hour Notice over restrictions imposed on school buses and ambulances plying on Jammu-Srinagar Highway.
On Monday, Parliament passed an amendment bill that allows the voluntary use of Aadhaar as proof of identity for users trying to open bank accounts or get mobile phone connections. The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019, was passed by Rajya Sabha by a voice vote.
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