By IANS,
New Delhi : The publication in the media of a report on reservations for Dalit Muslims and Christians before it was tabled in parliament forced the adjournment of the Rajya Sabha Tuesday for the second time during the ongoing winter session.
It took the intervention of Minorities Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid for order to be restored after he declared that the report of the Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission would be tabled in parliament.
“The matter is under the consideration of the government and we will bring it before parliament,” he said when the Rajya Sabha reassembled after a 15-minute adjournment.
“You wanted the response of the government. The government has responded. The matter ends there. Let us discuss the matter in the Business Advisory Committee,” Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan declared.
The trouble began during Zero Hour as Ali Anwar Ansari and Sabir Ali of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and Aziz Pasha and P. Madhu of the Communist Party of India (CPI) advanced to the speaker’s podium demanding that the Mishra Commission report be tabled in the house.
“I’ll listen to you. Go back to your seats,” Khan directed them and they did so.
As they continued to shout from their seats, Khan said: “You have served a privilege notion. It is under the consideration of the chair. Once he takes a decision, the matter will be notified.
Other opposition members also joined in the protests, prompting Khan to remark: “Unless it (the report) is under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, I cannot direct the government to table the report. At this stage, I can’t say if it is under the Commissions of Inquiry Act. Give notice and the government will consider it.
Said Brinda Karat (Communist Party of India-Marxist): “Sir, at least indicate to the government to table the report.”
Khan’s response was pointed: “I hope the government has taken note (of the members’ feelings). It is for the government to react. I cannot direct the government (to table the report).
“The members’ feelings are known to the government. I hope the government will take note (of this),” he added.
Not satisfied with this, the four MPs who had begun the protest again advanced to the speaker’s podium, forcing Khan to adjourn the house at 12.15 p.m.
The protests continued for five minutes when the house resumed and order was restored only when Khurshid walked in at 12.35 p.m. and made his statement.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned on the same issue Nov 24, with JD-U’s Ansari raising the matter as the house assembled at 11 a.m.
Chairman Hamid Ansari tried to restore calm by saying that the issue could be raised during Zero Hour at 12 noon but Ansari and two or three other MPs advanced towards his podium. At this, the chairman adjourned the house for 10 minutes and asked the leaders of all political parties to meet him in his chamber.
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