Parliament: Both Houses Adjourned Amidst Opposition Protests Over GST, Price Rise
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi joins the Opposition's protest over the issues of inflation and price rise, near the Gandhi statue in Parliament. Image Courtesy: ANI
New Delhi:Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings were on Tuesday adjourned till 2 p.m amidst protests by Opposition members over imposition of GST (goods and services tax) on some new items and on price rise issue.
As soon as the House assembled at 11 a.m, Opposition members belonging to the Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK and others came to the well of the House carrying placards against the imposition of the GST on some new items.
They raised slogans against the Modi government over the issue of price rise. The placards read “Gabbar Singh Strikes Again” among others.
Speaker Om Birla appealed to the Opposition members to go to their seats and said carrying of placards inside the House is against Parliamentary rules.
He said since the House is discussing farmers' issue, the members should participate in it.
“You carry rules book but don't follow rules. The rules prohibit carrying placards here but you are carrying them. You raise farmers issue outside the House but not inside.
“You raise the issue of price rise outside the House but not inside. In the last session you did not participate in the debate on price rise. This is not good,” Birla said.
As the Opposition members did not pay any heed to the Speaker's appeal, he adjourned the House till 2 pm after about 15 minutes of proceedings.
In Rajya Sabha, proceedings in the pre-lunch session were adjourned without transacting any business as Opposition parties, including the Congress, pressed for an immediate discussion on issues ranging from price rise to the Agnipath scheme.
Members of the Congress, Left, and Aam Aadmi Party insisted on a discussion on the issues, forcing adjournment of proceedings till 2 pm.
Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu rejected notices given by Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders under rule 267 that calls for setting aside the business of the day to take up the issues listed by them.
"I am not admitting them," Naidu said soon after the listed papers were laid on the table.
Opposition members insisted on a discussion on the issues.
"On price rise and other issues, we can have a discussion. On that I have no problem," Naidu said indicating a willingness to take up a debate on the issue at a later date under a different rule.
But this did not pacify the Opposition members who vociferously started raising the issue.
Naidu asked members to resume their places and ordered that nothing that they speak would go on record.
Soon after, he adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm.
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