Rajya Sabha on Thursday witnessed uproar by Left, SP and JD(U) members over charges by jailed IPS officer D.G. Vanzara against Narendra Modi and his aide Amit Shah.
Members belonging to Left parties staged a walkout after they were not allowed to raise the issue.
As soon as the House met for the day, Left, SP and JD(U) members were on their feet shouting slogans, demanding that the issue be taken up for discussion immediately.
Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurein, who was in the Chair, however, rejected their demand leading to more protests. He then adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
Earlier, Mr. Kurein asked them to take their seats so that a reference could be read out to pay tributes to former President and Rajya Sabha’s first Chairman Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
After the reference, the agitating members moved into the aisles demanding that their notice for discussion on the issue be taken up.
“If one of you speak, I will allow,” Mr. Kurien said, but members continued to shout “Vanzara, Vanzara.”
BJP members too were on their feet to counter them but could not be heard in the din.
As his attempts to restore order failed, Kurien adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
When the House reconvened, Mr. Sitaram Yechury (CPI(M) said the issue of terrorism was not a state subject as it concerns the entire country.
Mr. Kurien then ruled that the subject could not be raised in Rajya Sabha.
“That is not a subject to be raised here because that is a statement of an undertrial...Chairman cannot take congnisance of a statement by an undertrial,” he said.
Left members, however, continued to protest saying they were given an assurance that they will be allowed to raise the issue. They were countered by slogan shouting by BJP members.
Mr. Kurien said he had only told them that he will give a ruling on the issue. “I did not say that Vanzara issue will be allowed to be raised. After sufficient consideration, it has been decided not allow the issue,” he said.
Not satisfied, Mr. Yechury led the Left members out of the House. After the walkout, the House took up Zero Hour mentions.
Mr. Vanzara has slammed Chief Minister Narendra Modi and accused his government of failing to protect jailed police officers who fought against “Pakistan-inspired terrorism”.
