By IANS,
New Delhi : Both houses of parliament were adjourned Thursday when National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs disrupted proceedings over price rice and inflation.
The NDA partners, led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, walked into the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha at 11.55 a.m. shouting slogans against rising food prices.
They gathered near the chair’s podium in the two houses and shouted slogans like “UPA sarkar hai hai” (UPA government, Down! Down!), “Mahngai ko rok na paaye who sarkar nikkammi hai” (the government that cannot control prices is worthless).
BJP leader Sushma Swaraj led the protestors in the Rajya Sabha while her colleague V.K. Malhotra took over in the lower house.
Both the houses were soon adjourned till 2 p.m., as it was not possible to carry on the proceedings.
Earlier at 11 a.m., NDA members including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Shiv Sena staged a protest demonstration outside the parliament gate.
They had put on cloth placards demanding that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government should either bring down prices or resign. Around 130 MPs were present during the protests.
“They (UPA) should either govern well or get out,” said M. Venkaiah Naidu, senior BJP leader.
Reacting to the protests, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said: “What NDA is doing is all eyewash as the elections are approaching. The states where BJP is in power have failed to bring down prices and are not cooperating with the state governments. The traders who support BJP are indulging in the hoarding of essential commodities and have established cartels.”