New Delhi: The Gaza situation rocked Rajya Sabha for the second consecutive day on Thursday with a determined opposition demanding an immediate discussion even as Chairman Hamid Ansari said the matter can be taken up at a later date while rejecting the government’s plea against a debate.
Giving his ruling on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s request made on Wednesday, Ansari said, “I am unable to accede to the request of the Minister” and cited rules in favour of the notices given by the opposition in this regard.
Swaraj had opposed any debate on the issue arguing it is not admissible as it is not primarily concern of Government of India and any discourteous remark could affect India’s relations with Israel and Palestine.
“I do not find any infirmity in the notices given by the Leader of the Opposition and others,” Ansari said, referring to the demand by the opposition for a debate.
In another ruling, he accepted the plea of Leader of the House Arun Jaitley that the issue be not taken up for discussion on Thursday and the government will communicate an appropriate date for the same soon.
“Accordingly, in view of the provisions of rule 177 read with the communication received from the leader of the House, the short duration discussion on Palestine has not been listed in today’s agenda paper,” Ansari said.
Citing rules, he said, the “the subject having been already admitted, now requires consultations with the Leader of the House to fix the next date and time for discussion.”
Not finding the issue listed in Thursday’s business of the House, infuriated opposition members were up on their feet and in the aisles vociferously demanding that the important issue be taken up today itself.
Questioning the Chairman’s ruling, opposition members said he had no authority to change the agenda and an item listed on Wednesday had to be taken up first on Thursday.
The Upper House saw three adjournments in the pre-lunch session – two during Question Hour and one in Zero hour.
The House witnessed uproarious scenes during Zero Hour after V Maitreyan (AIADMK) wondered that while the opposition members were so agitated over the killing of citizens in a distant land, they were not concerned over the killing of Tamil Nadu fishermen in Sri Lanka. Irked by his remarks, opposition members including those of Congress and Left parties were on their feet and entered the aisles while Maitreyan received support from treasury benches.
Protesting members demanded that the “aspersions” cast by Maitreyan be expunged.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien sought to pacify the agitated members saying he will check the records and will expunge remarks if they have cast any direct or indirect aspersion against any member. As uproar continued, Kurien adjourned the House till 2 PM.
Leading the opposition attack, Congress accused the government of “disrespecting” and “diluting” institutions one after another and said that now they were trying to do so with Parliament.
“The question is not what topic is to be discussed and when. The question is that whether the Executive can over-rule the rights of the Legislature. In such a short span of time, this government has disrespected one institution after another in the country. After Judiciary, they are now trying to disrespect Parliament. We will now allow it,” Satyavrat Chaturvedi (Cong) said.
Resenting Maitreyan’s remarks, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said India has economic interest in West Asia and peace in that region is in the interest of India.
“The country’s economy is based on West Asia,” he said.
I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar said the government understands the sensitivities and respects the right of members.
“To maintain the dignity of the House is responsibility of both sides. Government is not running away from a debate. The issue may be taken up at the Business Advisory Committee meeting,” he said.
As soon as the House met for Zero Hour, Naresh Chandra Agarwal (SP) demanded that a short duration discussion on violence in Gaza be taken up as per the list of business yesterday.
Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said postponing the discussion would send wrong signals as India’s relations to West Asia is “centuries old” with economic and social ties.
Earlier, soon after the House met for the day, Yechury supported Anand Sharma saying dropping the issue from the agenda would amount to violation of the Constitution.
He said though a communication has been received from Jaitely for having the discussion on another date, the reason for it has not been given. Members also wanted to know why the discussion on the issue was being delayed, particularly after the violence was condemned by BRICS leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Amid din, Ansari adjourned the House first for 15 minutes and then till noon. (PTI)
