BSP stalls Question Hour in RS

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Wednesday stalled the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha demanding construction of a memorial for Bhimrao Ambedkar in Mumbai.

As soon as the House met for the day, party supremo Mayawati rose in her seat saying people have been awaiting for years for a memorial at a land owned by the Textile Ministry in Mumbai.

“We want government to give an assurance,” she said.

Chairman Hamid Ansari said a statement by the government is listed in the agenda and the announcement will be made at noon.

Ms. Mayawati, however, demanded that the Question Hour be suspended and the statement be made forthwith.

Mr. Ansari said the Question Hour will not be suspended as the matter has already been listed for 1200 hours. “At 1200 hours you will get the government announcement...it is listed.”

As Ms. Mayawati and other BSP members were unrelenting, Mr. Ansari said, “This is not going on record. Please sit down.”

“You are a very senior leader,” he told Mr. Mayawati and asked members to allow Question Hour to proceed.

Mr. Ansari said representatives of all political parties had been told in the morning meeting that an announcement on Ambedkar memorial will be made at 1200 hours.

“Why not now?” Ms. Mayawati retorted.

When Mr. Ansari said there was no notice for suspension of Question Hour, Ms. Mayawati said the statement at noon will be meaningless if the House is not allowed to function.

But with Mr. Ansari standing firm, Ms. Mayawati and other BSP members rushed into the Well raising slogans in support of the memorial.

Mr. Ansari then adjourned the House till noon.