Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice before lunch on Friday after the Opposition refused to relent from its position of seeking a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the discussion on the secular fabric of the country.
For the fifth day in succession, the Opposition led by the Congress and the Trinamool Congress continued to press for a statement from Prime Minister Modi on forcible religious conversions.
Explaining why his party and the rest of the Opposition has been insisting on a reply from the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad referred to Mr. Modi's election speeches and said during the campaign he sought votes for “himself not the BJP”, and thereby is “answerable”.
“We respect the Prime Minister and the Leader of the House, but I have listened to his speeches for six months; he sought votes for himself, not the party. I respect him, seeking votes for himself is not derogatory, I'm not casting aspersions on him, it is not anti-national or a crime. Because he has given the pain, he must give the medicine,” Mr. Azad said in his compelling speech.
Even as the BJP MPs protested, Mr. Azad said the PM should assure all communities that everyone is safe. “The House is demanding that the PM must come here and respect this House. Coming to Parliament and giving assurance to his colleagues is not disrespect for the PM. If he maintains silence, it will harm the BJP,” he went on to say.
Mr. Azad said the warm reception that the Prime Minister receives when he goes abroad is because he represents the 125-crore multi-religion country.
The House was adjourned shortly thereafter, as members began raising slogans and trooped into the Well of the House.
The BJP however remained adamant that the reply will be tendered by the concerned Minister and that the Opposition cannot dictate terms.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said government is ready for a debate, but will not agree to the conditions set by the Opposition. Chairman Hamid Ansari also pointed out that as per the notice for discussion accepted under rule 276, there is no stipulation that the PM has to reply.
Earlier, V. Hanumantha Rao of the Congress demanded an apology from the Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, for accusing him of using unparliamentary language against the Prime Minister while speaking to mediapersons.
“I never used any unparliamentary language against Prime Minister... please see the records and put things straight. It is a question of my character,” he said.