6th Day of Parliament Logjam; Opp Demands JPC on Adani Issue, BJP Seeks Rahul Apology

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for sixth day on Tuesday, amid uproar over ruling BJP's demand for Rahul Gandhi's apology for his 'democracy in danger' remark in London.

Both Houses of Parliament will meet again on March 23.

While the BJP has demanded an "unambiguous apology" from Gandhi for his remarks in the UK that democracy in India is "under attack", several opposition parties have been demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe (JPC) into allegations against the Adani Group.

When Rajya Sabha reassembled at 2 p.m, having been adjourned earlier in the day, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar led the House in greeting the country for various festivals, including Chaitra Sukhladi, Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, Cheti Chand, Navre and Sajibu Cheiraoba.

He also said that on the request of several members to enable them to participate in the festivities, the House will not have a sitting on Wednesday and instead it would meet on March 23.

Dhankhar then tried to take up the listed business of discussion on the working of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship amid protests from Opposition members. He then gave the floor to Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.

When Kharge stood up and said that "Rahul Gandhi is not a member of this House and there is no question of him apologising (in this House)...", ruling party members shouted slogans demanding Gandhi's apology for his remark in London.

It led to Dhankhar adjourning the House till March 23 (Thursday).

Earlier, the proceedings of the House were adjourned till 2 p.m after MPs from treasury benches created an uproar over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's democracy remarks.

Opposition members too were on their feet after Chairman Dhankhar rejected 11 notices under Rule 267 to suspend the scheduled business of the day and take up matters related to the Adani issue.

Before adjourning the proceedings till 2 p.m, the chairman asked floor leaders of various political leaders to meet him in his chamber at 11.30 am.

Opposition party members who had given notices under Rule 267 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) were: Amee Yajnik, Pramod Tiwari, Tiruchi Siva, Kumar Ketkar, Neeraj Dangi, Rajneet Ranjan, Jebi Mather Hisham, Syed Nasir Hussain, Elamaram Kareem, Sanjay Singh and Sandosh Kumar P.

Through the notices, some of the opposition MPs had demanded to discuss the government's failure to constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate the charges of corporate fraud, political corruption, stock market manipulation and financial mismanagement against Adani group.

Ruckus in Lok Sabha Over Opposition Demand for JPC Probe

Lok Sabha proceedings, too, were adjourned for the day on Tuesday amid ruckus in the House with the Opposition demanding a JPC probe into the Adani issue.

As soon as the proceedings started, members of the Opposition benches raised the issue and shouted slogans like "we want JPC".

However, the Chair, Rajendra Agarwal, managed to pass the budget for Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Before adjourning the House, Agarwal wished MPs for various festivals, including Chaitra Sukhladi, Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, Cheti Chand, Navre and Sajibu Cheiraoba.

He also said on the request of several members to enable them to participate in the festivities, the House will not have a sitting on Wednesday and instead it would meet on March 23.

Earlier, Speaker Om Birla made repeated appeals to the protesting members to allow the Question Hour to function, giving the assurance that everyone will be given a chance to speak.

"I had made a personal request to the leaders of all parties. I would like to make another appeal, the House should function, the budget session is very important. Everyone will get a chance to speak," he said.

"If not given a chance after Question Hour, then you can come in the Well. If you don't want the House to function then the proceedings are adjourned till 2 pm," Birla said.