Uproar over foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and subsidy for domestic cooking gas continued to disturb parliamentary proceedings for the third consecutive day on Monday. The Opposition persisted with its demand for a discussion on FDI under a rule that entails voting.
In the Lok Sabha, Trinamool Congress members rushed to the well, carrying placards demanding 24 subsidised LPG cylinders. BJP members were on their feet, shouting slogans demanding rollback of the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail. As the din persisted, Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the House till noon. But the scene was no different when the House reassembled.
Amid noisy scenes, Human Resource Development Minister M.M. Pallam Raju went ahead with the introduction of the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2012. But the House could not transact any other business.
DMK members also trooped into the well, waving photocopies of newspaper clippings on statements made by the former CAG official, R. P. Singh, on the 2G scam.
As pandemonium continued, Girija Vyas, who was in the chair, adjourned the House for the day.
In the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition members created ruckus soon after the proceedings started.
BJP member M. Venkaiah Naidu asked Chairman M. Hamid Ansari to suspend question hour and allow a discussion on the FDI issue. When it was disallowed, the BJP and other Opposition members started shouting slogans, forcing adjournment for an hour.
When the House reassembled at noon, the situation was the same. BJP, BSP and Trinamool members raised slogans against the FDI decision.
The Samajwadi Party, which supports the ruling United Progressive Alliance from outside, raised the issue of reservation for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes in promotions.
As his efforts to run the House proved futile, E.M.S. Natchiappan, who was in the chair, adjourned it for the day.
Earlier, both Houses paid homage to the victims of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
