NEW DELHI: The Budget session of Parliament resumed on Monday with the Opposition confronting the government on various issues, including the brutal rape of a five-year-old girl in Delhi.
The Lok Sabha was Monday adjourned till Tuesday after being disrupted over various issues, including statehood for Telangana, demands for Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s resignation and the heckling of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
As soon as the Lower House assembled after a month-long break for the second half of the budget session, Speaker Meira Kumar led the MPs in paying tributes to late British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and victims of the April 4 building collapse in Thane where 74 people were killed.
The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned after uproar over various issues.
However, chairman Hamid Ansari went all out to ensure peace in the House. Ansari has offered debate on Coalgate, 2G case and growing violence against women.
Later, it was adjourned till 12.30pm as opposition created a ruckus in the House.
While the Question Hour and Zero Hour were a casualty on Monday as the House saw heated arguments on holding a discussion on alleged interference in CBI functioning on the coalgate issue and putting the motion to vote in this regard.
The House saw three adjournments before lunch with government agreeing to discuss the issue but opposition remained adamant on calling the Law Minister in the House and seeking suo motu statements from both Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Sngh and Law Minister Ashwani Kumar on the issue.
The motion moved by V Maitreyan (AIADMK) on suspension of Question Hour for a discussion on the role of CBI in the alleged coal scam was later rendered as infructuous by Deputy Chairman P J Kurien saying the matter ended at 12 noon with the Question Hour.
“That motion has become infructuous because Question Hour is over. Whether it was voted or not voted, that issue has become infructuous at 12 O’Clock,” Kurien said.
Chairman Hamid Ansari earlier admitted Maitreyan’s notice for moving the motion from among the eight notices received. He had put the motion to voice vote but no division of votes could take place amid the din, as Ansari adjourned the House for 30 minutes. Earlier, too the House was adjourned for 15 minutes on the issue.
“I am asking for peace. A Motion has been moved. It is to be voted. Voting cannot take place in noise. Motion cannot be put to vote,” Ansari said as members from BJP and AIADMK rushed into the Well.
Earlier, Prime Minister Dr Singh appealed the opposition to allow Parliament to work smoothly.
“It is my sincere wish that house will function. If there are any concerns of the opposition we are willing to debate all those issues which are worrying the opposition,” Manmohan Singh told reporters shortly before parliament resumed the budget session after a month-long break.
He expressed confidence that the financial business would be transacted.
“I am very confident that this financial business will be transacted to our satisfaction,” he said.
Requesting opposition to allow the government to function, Manmohan Singh said: “We hope that everybody would cooperate in that process and the budget is passed and essential business and other important bill will also be dealt with effectively.”(Agencies)