The Lok Sabha was adjourned thrice on Tuesday amid noisy scenes, bouts of slogan-shouting and protests by Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Janata Dal (United) members over the Women's Reservation Bill.
As soon as the House assembled, members of the SP, RJD and JD (U) began shouting slogans against the government decision to bring the Bill in Parliament and rushed to the well of the House. However, Speaker Meira Kumar tried to proceed with question hour.
Barely 25 minutes into question hour, SP chief Mulayam Singh, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav too trooped into the well with the Speaker urging them repeatedly to maintain order and return to their seats. As this went in vain, she adjourned the House for 10 minutes.
The scene was no different after the House re-assembled and the Speaker adjourned the House again. Amid vociferous protests after the House met, Ms. Kumar directed that papers be tabled. The protesters continued to raise slogans demanding withdrawal of the Bill, attacking the Congress for cosying up to the BJP for the passage of the Bill and exhorting Dalits, backward class people and Muslims to rise and unite to build the country. As the din continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till 2 p.m. after the papers were laid on the table.
Rly demand passed
The only business the House could transact amid the uproar was passing of the Railways demand for grants and appropriation bills for 2010-11 without any discussion.
The Railways had sought an additional Rs. 5,268 crore as demand for grants for the current fiscal. The demands related to expenditure under 11 heads which included repairs and maintenance, fuel and payment towards salary and pension. After the demands for grants were approved, the House was adjourned for the day.
