Cong disrupts Parl over Arunachal Guv

The Congress on Wednesday disrupted Parliament over Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa, alleging that efforts are being made to “destabilise” the Congress government in the state, even as the Centre said an “Emergency-like situation” was being witnessed there. 

The party forced repeated adjournments of Rajya Sabha over the issue, while in Lok Sabha, its members, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, staged a walkout. Alleging “murder of Constitution and democracy”, the Congress members in both Houses demanded the dismissal of the Governor.

Raising the issue in Lok Sabha, Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge said despite Congress having two-third majority, it is very “unfortuante that unconstitutional attempts are being made to throw out the government.” He said, “Efforts are being to destablise the elected government to bring in a non-Congress government.”

When Kharge talked about the Governor’s role, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked him not do so, saying rules do not permit raising of a matter related to a state. 

Parliamentary Affairs Minster M Venkiah Naidu said the conduct of a Governor cannot be discussed in Parliament this way. “The (Arunachal Pradesh) Speaker has disqualified 14 MLAs. It’s an Emergency-like situation there,” Naidu said.

In Rajya Sabha, Congress members trooped into the Well and shouted slogans like “stop the murder of Constitution in Arunachal Pradesh and Dismiss Arunachal Governor.”

Chairman Hamid Ansari made a vain attempt to take up the Question Hour. But as the din continued, he adjourned the House till 12.30 pm.

Similar scenes were witnessed when the House again met. The Chairman persisted with the Question Hour. Two questions were taken up in the din. But soon the Congress members trooped into the Well. Answari requested the agitating Congress members not to come into the Well but his plea remained unheard. As the din continued, he adjourned the House till 2 pm.

Similar scenes prevailed when the House re-assembled, forcing adjournment till 3 pm, but not before Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar made a statement on the recent Climate Change Summit in Paris.

When the Rajya Sabha met again at 2 PM, Pramod Tiwari (Cong) raised the issue of the Arunachal Governor, which was objected to by Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien who said the members will have to move a substantive motion for any discussion on it.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the rule says that one cannot abuse the Governor but Tiwari was just stating what had happened. “It is not abuse,” he argued. CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said Azad has moved a substantive motion for discussion.

As the protests continued, Naidu asked the Opposition to clarify if they want the Parliament to run. “Democracy is being murdered”, Naidu said, as he requested the opposition to let the House function. The House was then adjourned till 3 pm. When the House re-assembled, Congress members again started raising slogans like ‘Loktantra Ki Hatya Band Karo (stop murdering democracy)’ and rushed into the Well.

Amid din, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot moved the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Attrocities) Amendment Bill, 2015 for consideration and passage.