Rajya Sabha ends with unruly scenes, Chairman’s mike broken
23 March 2013 12:54 AM GMT
Pandemonium broke out in the upper house of parliament on Friday with agitating members from the DMK and AIADMK turning violent on the Sri Lanka resolution issue. Members from both the parties contended that the anti-Sri Lanka resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council was not strong enough and accused the government of not doing enough.
Renuka Choudhary, who was presiding over the house, pleaded with the members to go back to their seats. When she refused to adjourn the house, some members snatched and tore papers from the chairperson's podium. The chair still continued the proceedings, after which V Maitreyan of the AIADMK broke the microphone at the chairpersons’ podium.
External affairs minister Salman Khurshid, who was making a statement on the return of Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen, looked visibly shocked at the incident. Amid the ruckus, Chowdhary adjourned the house till April 22. After adjourning the house, Chowdhary asked members to not behave like animals.
This infuriated DMK members, including Tiruchi Siva, Selvaganapathi and Vasanthy Stanley, who strongly protested her remarks, terming them as unparliamentary. The DMK members also threatened that they will not allow Chowdhary to occupy the Chair in future. 'You cannot treat us like animals,' the members shouted back.
Though Chowdhary left the House, Congress members Ambika Soni, Jairam Ramesh and RPN Singh and some senior members, including those from the Opposition, had to intervene to placate the DMK members. Chowdhary later apologised to them to resolve the matter.
Earlier, the upper house was adjourned twice over the same issue. The first adjournment came soon after it met at 11am, when Chairman M Hamid Ansari adjourned the house till noon. At noon it was adjourned again till 2.30pm.
Renuka Choudhary, who was presiding over the house, pleaded with the members to go back to their seats. When she refused to adjourn the house, some members snatched and tore papers from the chairperson's podium. The chair still continued the proceedings, after which V Maitreyan of the AIADMK broke the microphone at the chairpersons’ podium.
External affairs minister Salman Khurshid, who was making a statement on the return of Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen, looked visibly shocked at the incident. Amid the ruckus, Chowdhary adjourned the house till April 22. After adjourning the house, Chowdhary asked members to not behave like animals.
This infuriated DMK members, including Tiruchi Siva, Selvaganapathi and Vasanthy Stanley, who strongly protested her remarks, terming them as unparliamentary. The DMK members also threatened that they will not allow Chowdhary to occupy the Chair in future. 'You cannot treat us like animals,' the members shouted back.
Though Chowdhary left the House, Congress members Ambika Soni, Jairam Ramesh and RPN Singh and some senior members, including those from the Opposition, had to intervene to placate the DMK members. Chowdhary later apologised to them to resolve the matter.
Earlier, the upper house was adjourned twice over the same issue. The first adjournment came soon after it met at 11am, when Chairman M Hamid Ansari adjourned the house till noon. At noon it was adjourned again till 2.30pm.
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