Lok Sabha takes up Zero Hour amidst bedlam

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha today took up the Zero Hour amid pandemonium created by the Opposition over Lalit Modi controversy and Vyapam scam, with mostly BJP members raising issues ranging from the hanging of Yakub Memon to Delhi's AAP government spending large amounts on publicity.

As Opposition members, mainly from Congress, trooped into the Well raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "silence" on the controversies, BJP and Shiv Sena members raised issues which also included alleged corruption by Congress-ruled state governments and facilities for seriously sick persons on Mumbai's local trains.

As the din continued, Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai continued with the proceedings amid demands by Congress members to adjourn the House.

While holding a placard, Congress member K Suresh stepped on the podium of Secretary General Anoop Mishra. When Mishra asked him to step aside, he was snubbed by the MP who also placed the placard behind the Secretary General's chair.

At one time, one member slammed a document on the Secretary General's desk.

Ramesh Bidhuri (BJP) accused the AAP government in Delhi of spending public money for publicity and giving wrong figures about budgetary allocation for the education sector.

Anurag Thakur (BJP) slammed a section of the media which he alleged was propagating the stand of those "few" who had opposed the death sentence to Mumbai serial blasts convict Yakub Memon.

Nishikant Dubey (BJP) referred to the various "scams" exposed by the CAG in Congrees-ruled states and during the previous UPA government rule.

Despite sloganeering, the Chair continued with the proceedings for an hour before adjourning the House for 30 minutes till 3.30 pm.