Thirtyfive minutes of the first hour of the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday was taken up by Opposition members raising points of order and rulings on their notices for suspension of business to make their points, which were turned down by the Chair. Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien ordered expunction of two observations made on the floor, one challenging the ruling of the Chairman.
Samajwadi Party members tried to raise the issue of apprehension of release of more separatists in Jammu and Kashmir for which the Chair asked them to give fresh notice as the House had discussed the matter on Monday and the Home Minister had replied.
Leader of the House Arun Jaitley intervened to say that the time of the House was being taken up when the matter had been discussed threadbare in the House on Monday. “If the member has any authenticated information on any specific case, he can give notice and the government will seek information,’’ he said.
Sharad Yadav of Janata Dal (United) was informed that his notice for suspension of business to discuss the killing of a Dimapur rape accused had been turned into a zero hour mention. This was opposed by a Congress member, which the chair expunged from records.
