Stormy start to Parliament's Winter session, houses adjourned

NEW DELHI: Winter Session of Parliament today got off to a stormy start with key UPA supporters SP and BSP triggering uproar in both Houses leading to adjournment of proceedings.

While the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12:30, Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day.

In the Lok Sabha, SP members trooped into the Well protesting the Centre's decision to cap the subsidy on cooking gas, while BSP members were in the Well demanding dismissal of the Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh on the ground of law and order.

Some BJP members were heard saying that SP and BSP were helping the government through their protests. Members of the Trinamool Congress, which has given a no-confidence motion against the decision to allow FDI in retail, were on their feet waving some letters.

Some members belonging to Left parties were also seen in the aisle trying to raise certain issues.

Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj was seen on her feet trying to draw attention of Speaker Meira Kumar to, what she termed as, insult of Parliament by going ahead with the decision on FDI.

Earlier, the Speaker read out obituary references to former members and Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray who passed away during the inter-session period.

Amid uproar, she adjourned the House till noon. The Rajya Sabha plunged into turmoil soon after the House mourned the death Thackeray and former members including former Defence Minister K C Pant and the loss of life in cyclones in US and Tamil Nadu and during Chhat Puja in Patna.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh introduced the ministers elevated or inducted in the recent Cabinet reshuffle.

As Mayawati (BSP) raised the issue of reservation to SC/ST in promotions, her party colleagues led by Brajesh Pathak trooped into the Well shouting slogans demanding reservation.

M Venkaiah Naidu (BJP) too rose to raise some issue but could not be heard in the din. Chairman Hamid Ansari tried to restore order but as members were unrelenting he adjourned.