Lok Sabha sees repeated disruptions over Lalit Modi issue

Lok Sabha was repeatedly disrupted over Lalit Modi controversy on the first working day of the Monsoon session on Wednesday with opposition members storming the Well with placards, ignoring Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's warning of action.

Members of Congress and Left protested vociferously demanding ouster of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in connection with the row involving Lalit Modi, former IPL chairman.

Members of the RJD and NCP were also seen supporting the opposition demand.

The placards, carried by Congress members, read '

Bade Modi meherban, to chhote Modi pehelwan ' (a Hindi idiom meaning that a small person is strong if supported by a powerful person) and ' PM chuppi todo ' (PM, break your silence), Modi ji 56 inch dikhao, Sushma, Raje ko turant hatao (Show your 56 inch chest by removing Swaraj and Raje).

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not present in the House, Ms. Swaraj was sitting in the front row along with Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Congress members were also sporting black badges on their arms to register their protests and continued wearing them and carrying placards despite Speaker's warning against doing so.

Due to the uproar, the House was repeatedly adjourned.

Ms. Mahajan disapproved of their action observing that she was deeply concerned over the “unruly behaviour“.

She said they were not following the rules of the conduct of business which have been repeatedly conveyed to them.

Quoting various rules, the Speaker told the agitating members that they must give proper notice in advance if they want to raise any issue on the floor of the House.

“In the event of disorderly behaviour, I would be constrained to take disciplinary action,” she said amidst protests by opposition members.

This added fuel to the fire and immediately Congress and Left members again stormed the Well while those from the TRS trooped into the Well in support of their demand for a separate High Court for Telangana.

This forced the Speaker to adjourn the House for two hours at few minutes are noon.

Earlier, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for an hour immediately after the day’s transaction began at 1100 hours.

The proceedings began with the Speaker referring to deaths in accidents and natural calamities in various parts of the state, besides an ambush on army personnel in Manipur and terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, Tunisia, Kuwait and France and termed terrorism as a scourge.

The members stood in silence for a few minutes as a mark of respect for those killed.