New Delhi: The CAG report on coal block allocation washed out Parliament proceedings during the entire week with the Opposition unrelenting on its demand even today for resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
For the fourth consecutive day, members from TDP and AIADMK backed the NDA in the Rajya Sabha in the protest while the Lok Sabha saw BJP members again storming the Well with no end to the turmoil in sight.
“Raja ko jail, PM ko bail; wah re Congress tera khel (Jail to Raja, Bail to PM, What a game by Congress), Koyle ki dalali hai, puri Congress kaali hai (brokership in coal block allocation, entire Congress is blackened),” were the slogans raised by the Opposition in both Houses on the last working day of the week.
They were countered vociferously by Congress members, who attacked the opposition for disrupting Parliament and waved documents to drive home the point that chief ministers of the BJP-ruled states were not in favour of auction of coal blocks.
NC member in Lok Sabha Mehboob Beg was seen displaying a placard saying ‘Don’t Stall Parliament, Stall Declining Economic Growth Instead’.
As soon as both the Houses met for the day, opposition members rushed to the Well raising slogans against the Prime Minister.
In the Lok Sabha, BJP and Shiv Sena members crowded the Well raising slogans against the government over “undue favours” extended to private firms to the tune of Rs 1.86 lakh crore in coal block allocation, as brought forth by the CAG.
Speaker Meira Kumar took up the Question Hour but nothing could be heard in the din. As the din continued, she adjourned the House till noon.
When the House reassembled, it was adjourned for the day immediately after laying of papers.
Rajya Sabha also witnessed slogan shouting by BJP-led NDA members the moment Chairman Hamid Ansari took up the listed business.
As BJP members shouted slogans demanding resignation of the Prime Minister, the treasury benches countered them by hailing Singh.
Ansari’s requests to allow the Question Hour to proceed had no impact on the agitating Opposition and he adjourned the House till noon.
When the House reassembled, the Opposition members stood up shouting slogans.
Minister of State V Narayanasamy rose to speak but was not allowed by the agitating members.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked BJP member Parshottam Khodabhai Ruapala to put his listed short notice question, but he declined.
Soon BJP members were in the Well while those from the NDA allies including JD-U and other parties like AIADMK and TDP kept standing and backing the protest.
Despite the din, Kurien allowed laying of papers and Special Mentions.
However, only two members could raise their mentions.
As the members kept shouting slogans in the Well, Kurien adjourned the House till 2.30 PM. (PTI)