Opposition brings House to halt again as PM Narendra Modi heads to Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI: A united opposition did not allow the Rajya Sabha to conduct any business on the second straight day on Wednesday as it vociferously demanded that Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Niranjan Jyoti be sacked for her controversial remarks, leading to worries in the government that crucial bills may get stuck if the deadlock continues.

Congress, TMC and SP trooped into the well of the Upper House and shouted slogans demanding the removal of Jyoti for saying at a public meeting that the people should choose whether ‘sons of Ram’ or ‘illegitimate sons’ should form the government in Delhi.

The House was adjourned several times before adjourning for the day without transacting any business. Opposition parties held meetings in the lobby of the Rajya Sabha to act in unison and not allow any business. Congress sources said the Opposition would continue to disrupt proceedings in the Upper House – where the ruling NDA is in a minority – in the coming days.

All eyes are now on what happens in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday as PM will be present in the House. Opposition has been demanding that he too should apologise for the minister’s remarks. Jyoti has already expressed regret in both Houses.

“All the legislative agenda of this government will go for a toss,” a senior Congress leader said.

BJP leaders maintained that Congress and TMC leaders have got away without tendering any apology in the past for unparliamentary remarks.

“UPA Minister Beni Prasad Verma had called Narendra Modi a murderer earlier this year (April 20). He refused to apologise and then PM Manmohan Singh apologized on his behalf,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said.