Members of Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Janata Dal (United) disrupted Lok Sabha proceedings for the third day on Wednesday over the Women’s Reservation Bill and the forcible eviction of their colleagues in the Rajya Sabha.
Virtually no business could be transacted due to pandemonium in the House, which had to be adjourned twice till 1400 hours and finally for the day when it reassembled. Only one question could be taken up.
As soon as the House met for the day, members belonging to SP, RJD and JD(U) led by Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad and Sharad Yadav rushed to the well and disrupted proceedings.
They shouted ‘marshal bulao’ (call the marshals) to protest the eviction of their party colleagues in the Rajya Sabha, forcing Speaker Meira Kumar to adjourn the House first during Question Hour and later at noon.
The Speaker could not even order the laying of papers due to the vociferous protests. Noticing the aggressive mood, Ms. Kumar adjourned the House almost immediately after she came in.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee and Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj were present.
When the House was not in session, Mr. Yadav and Mr. Prasad were seen urging Ms. Swaraj to take up the issue of using marshals to remove the seven suspended members from the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday and BJP member Yashwant Sinha was heard asking them to go the President and withdraw their support to the UPA.
