Parliamentary proceedings were disrupted on Tuesday as a united Opposition took on the government over price rise, demanding a discussion with voting. The Lok Sabha was adjourned thrice and the Rajya Sabha twice before both Houses wound up for the day.
In the Lok Sabha, Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal members including their leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad trooped into the well to protest against the recent de-regulation of petroleum prices which, they said, fuelled price rise.
Earlier, when the House assembled in the morning, members of the National Democratic Alliance, the Left parties, the SP and the RJD were on their feet demanding adjournment of business to discuss price rise.
Raising the matter, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj drew the attention of Speaker Meira Kumar to the solidarity shown by all parties including some allies of the ruling United Progressive Alliance during the July 5 Bharat bandh on the issue of price rise. “The NDA and Left parties have separately moved a motion for adjournment. We want to raise the matter in Parliament also on priority as price rise has affected every household in the country,'' she said.
An unrelenting Opposition turned down the Speaker's offer that the issue be taken up after question hour.
When the House met again at noon, things were no better and it was adjourned again after papers were laid including a suo motu statement on petroleum de-regulation by Petroleum Minister Murli Deora and introduction of the Securities and Insurance Laws (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2010 by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The Lok Sabha met again for a brief while at 2 p.m. before being adjourned for the day.
In the Upper House, soon after two new members took the oath and Chairman Hamid Ansari called for the commencement of question hour, Opposition members were on their feet demanding an immediate discussion on price hike under Rule 168, which involves voting.
Some Shiv Sena members, holding printouts of Maharashtra's demand on Belgaum, trooped into the well. The House was adjourned till 12 noon. The pandemonium continued when it reassembled after question hour, prompting the Chair to call it a day.
