Vociferous protests by the Congress on Wednesday stalled the discussion of the Constitution Amendment Bill for the GST in Rajya Sabha. Soon after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley moved the Bill for discussion, Congress members stormed the Well shouting a resounding ‘No’. The House was adjourned for the day around 2:45 p.m.
In the Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tore into Congress, saying it had helped Bofors case accused Ottavio Quattrocchi and Bhopal gas leak accused Warren Anderson flee from India.
“During one of his long holidays abroad, the Congress vice-president should reflect on his family’s history,” the External Affairs Minister said.
Live updates:
6.45 p.m.: Govt. rules out Sushma Swaraj’s resignation, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley says all charges against her are baseless.
6.43 p.m.: Adjournment motion against Sushma Swaraj defeated in Lok Sabha by voice vote after Congress stages walkout.
6:00 pm: Prime Minister Modi ji does not have the courage to sit in the House and face our questions: Rahul Gandhi
5:55 pm: "IPL is the centre of Kala Dhan (black money) in India. Lalit Modi is a symbol of black money in the country."
5:30 pm: The difficulty with Mr. Rahul Gandhi is that he's an expert without any knowledge: Arun Jaitley
4.30 p.m. : The Congress rejects Sushma Swaraj’s claim of helping Lalit Modi on humanitarian grounds in Lok Sabha, saying she could have done it under a legal framework and demanded her resignation on moral grounds.
The attack by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge in the House, which saw normalcy virtually for the first time in the Monsoon Session, came during a discussion on the Lalit Modi controversy. He also called for a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and not Ms. Swaraj, whose “role” is being debated.
3:40 pm: Quattrocchi and Anderson were allowed to walk free by the Congress: Sushma
3:12 pm: No conflict of interest in my case. My husband and daughter have not taken a single penny from Lalit Modi for this case, says Sushma.
3:05 pm: Sushma Swaraj replies: Mallikarjun Kharge said I admitted my fault. Honorable speaker what I said was if helping a woman suffering from cancer who's an Indian citizen is a fault, then I accept my fault; Does Mallikarjun Kharge ji consider it as admission of guilt?
2:58 pm: Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asks Sushma Swaraj to intervene.
2:57 pm: Sushma Swaraj ji must resign on moral grounds and for direct or indirect involvement: Mallikarjun Kharge
2:47 pm: Congress in Rajya Sabha stalls discussion on the GST Bill, forces adjournment of the House for the day.
2:30 pm: Lok Sabha adjourned till 2.45 p.m.
2:00 pm: Whatever happening in Parliament is unfortunate, we appeal to Congress to support GST Bill: Amit Shah
1:50 pm: Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 p.m. following ruckus by the Opposition.
12: 45 pm: Lok Sabha takes up discussion on adjournment motion moved by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Sushma Swaraj's alleged role in Lalit Modi row.
12: 20 pm: Lok Sabha adjourned till 12:30 p.m., Rajya Sabha till 2 p.m.
12: 15 pm: Sushma Swaraj says Congress making excuses to run away from discussion.
12: 15 pm: Speaker disallows the use of 'Modigate' in Mallikarjuna Kharge's adjournment motion. Congress, CPI(M), AAP MPs object
11: 25 am: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 noon.
11: 20 am: Question Hour can't be suspended, Speaker reads out from rule book. May allow adjournment motion later.
11: 15 am: Prime Minister must speak in the House, says Congress, after the Government agrees to discuss the Lalit Modi controversy.
11: 12 am: No objection to adjournment motion, says Lok Sabha Speaker.
11: 10 am: Union Minister Arun Jaitley says "Congress cannot stand a non-Gandhi government."
11: 05 am: Sushma Swaraj takes up Mallikarjuna Kharge's challenge, says "will answer to all of his allegations." She appeals to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to accept Mr. Kharge's adjournment motion.
