CBI-Mamata row: Parliament proceedings washed out again

New Delhi: It seems the Opposition parties are 'united' even in Parliament as members of TDP, Samajwadi Party and RJD rubbed their shoulders with the members of All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) during the protest against the government over the standoff between the CBI and the Kolkata Police. However, the members of the Congress were also in the Well and demanding JPC probe into multi-crore Rafale aircraft deal.

The proceedings of the both the Houses of Parliament were disrupted for the second day on Tuesday over CBI action against Kolkata Police Commissioner. The LS was adjourned till 2 pm and RS adjourned for the day. Earlier, RS was adjourned till 2 pm.

"You do not have faith in CBI. You do not have faith in the Supreme Court. This is not done. The case is being heard by the SC. Let Parliament do its function. Let all institutions perform their (respective) roles," Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan told the protesting the TMC members before she adjourned the House till noon.

Mahajan adjourned the house till 2.30 pm after Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav protested against Hukumdev Narayan Yadav's speech and sought that some portions of it be expunged. Opposition members continued to protest when the House met again. Subsequently, the Lower House was adjourned till 4 pm.

Meanwhile, the government told the Lok Sabha that there is no proposal to scrap the sedition law, which provides for a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said that amendments in criminal law are a continuous process, made after consultations with various stakeholders.

When the House reconvened at 4 pm, Trinamool Congress MPs walked out, accusing the Prime Minister of not addressing the developments in West Bengal. The House was adjourned for the day just after a while it reconvened as sloganeering continued.

The Rajya Sabha also witnessed similar scenes with TMC-led Opposition forcing its adjournment. As the Upper House met this morning, TMC MP Derek O'Brien raked up the issue, which was rejected by Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu that prompted members from TMC, Congress, Samajwadi Party, TDP and other parties to begin protests in the Well.

While countering the protests, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said that the CBI was prevented from pursuing its probe into chit fund scams. The minister said that the detention of CBI officers, performing their official duties was unconstitutional.

Some members displayed placards and sought to raise the issue of alleged corruption in the Rafale deal.

The crisis in Kolkata, which dominated Parliament through the day, started on February 3 as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee began a public dharna to "save the Constitution", accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of launching a coup in the state.

Some CBI officials were detained by the Kolkata Police for a few hours on Sunday evening. The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the CBI not to take coercive action against Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar but directed him to cooperate with the investigation.

Earlier, the House congratulated its former members, Pranab Mukherjee and Nanaji Deshmukh conferred with Bharat Ratna and Kuldip Nayyar, Hukumdev Narayan Yadav and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa with Padma Bhushan.