Strong protest in Rajya Sabha after naming of BJP, TDP members

NEW DELHI: The naming of BJP’s 20 Rajya Sabha members in a House bulletin for ‘gross disorderly conduct’ faced protests from the Opposition, barring JD(U) and government’s outside supporters, forcing the Chair to reconsider the move.

The House bulletin mentioned the names of 20 BJP and two TDP members who trooped into the well of the House protesting Defence Minister A K Antony's statement on LoC killings accusing them of “gross disorderly conduct in violation of rules and etiquettes of Rajya Sabha”. Angry BJP members pointed out that though Congress members had been protesting over Telangana and entering the well of the House their names did not figure in the bulletin, and staged a walkout saying unless the notice of names was withdrawn, there was no question of returning to the House. Earlier, during zero hour, government had managed to introduce two bills but members from other opposition parties — AIADMK, CPI-M, SP, BSP JD(U) and AGP — insisted that further business should not be conducted in the absence of the main opposition party.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath requested PJ Kurien, who was in the Chair, to “consider the matter”.

“This is a new practice (naming members in the House Bulletin for disrupting proceedings),” he said. Kurien said the matter will be reconsidered and urged to the Opposition to return to the House.

BJP members escorted by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla returned to the House and the proceedings resumed and took up the Companies Bill.

Earlier, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley had said never before had any protests by sections of the House figured in the Bulletin.