Rajya Sabha proceedings were washed out on Tuesday as the Opposition parties protested over the vacancies in the commissions for the welfare of minorities, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the Backward Classes.
In the first half, the proceedings were disrupted constantly as Opposition members repeatedly rushed into the Well, shouting slogans.
In the second half, despite appeals by Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien that the remaining debate on the Finance Bill be completed, the Opposition continued the protest. The House was adjourned for the day at 3.10 p.m.
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Process under way
The government sought to assure the House that the process to fill the vacancies was under way.
But the members of the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, the Janata Dal (United) and the Bahujan Samaj Party wanted a commitment that the vacancies would be filled in a week. Speaking amid the din, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot attributed the delay to the model code of conduct that had been in force for the Assembly elections in the five States.
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He pointed out that there had been delays in the appointments even when the UPA had been in power. In 2007, the delay was of three months and in 2010, of five months.
Demands debate
Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad sought a discussion because members had given notice.
“The SC/STs and the OBCs and the minorities account for 80-85% of the population and various commissions implement schemes meant for their welfare and uplift,” he said.
The leadership of the ruling party ... is not interested in the uplift of the SC/STs and the OBCs and minorities. This shows how much the BJP government cares for these classes.”