Piyush Goyal’s demand for discussion on crime in Rajasthan leads to Rajya Sabha disruption

NEW DELHI: While back channel reach out between the government and the Opposition is on to end the stalemate in Rajya Sabha and a discussion under Rule 167 is likely in the coming week, Leader of the House Piyush Goyal caused a flutter on Friday by suggesting that a Short Duration Discussion be held on the rising cases of assaults on women in Congress-ruled Rajasthan. With the Oppostion vehemently protesting this, no work was conducted in the House.

Minutes after the Upper House met for the day, the Opposition tried to raise its demand for a discussion on Manipur under Rule 267. Goyal said there has been a rise in the assault on women in Rajasthan and they are not safe in the state. He suggested that just as a Short Duration Discussion under Rule 176 on the situation in Manipur has been accepted by the Chair, another one should be held under the same rule on Rajasthan.

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar then invited Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to speak started protesting. In the din, Kharge said, “ We have demanded again and again that a discussion on Manipur be held under Rule 267. How does the question of Rajasthan arise here? This is not the forum for that. It can be done in their Assembly.”


Dhankhar ruled that not just Manipur and Rajasthan but any issue can be discussed in Parliament under the Constitutional mechanism, Even judges can be discussed but under a different mechanism, he said.

As the protests continued, the Chairman adjourned the House till noon. However during Question Hour, BJP member Ghanshyam Tiwariwho hails from Rajasthan- raised the law and order issue in his home state. Goyal reiterated his point on a discussion on Rajasthan, saying the government there has failed completely and the mothers and daughters in the state are not safe.

Kharge said if the Chair agrees, he is ready to start his speech on a debate on Manipur under Rule 267.

Amid all the confusion, Dhankhar adjourned the House till Monday.