New Delhi:Uproar conti-nued in the Lok Sabha on Thursday with almost all opposition parties deman-ding the suspension of the question hour and a discussion on the Agra “conversions”.
As soon as the house met for the day, members of the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and CPI-M trooped near the speaker’s podium, and also raised slogans like “Modi sarkaar hosh mein aao” (Wake up, Modi government) and “Hindu-Muslim bhai-bhai”.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge asked Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to allow a discussion on the issue. “You have full powers to suspend the question hour.
Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav said that the matter should be taken “seriously”. he said.
The alleged forcible conversion of about 300 Muslims in Agra echoed in parliament Wednesday as well, with opposition mem-bers raising the issue in both houses.Nearly 300 members of some 60 Muslim families living in a slum on Agra’s outskirts reportedly embra-ced Hinduism Mon-day.
As soon as the House met for the day, Opposition members belonging to Congress, TMC, SP, RJD and AAP came to the Well demanding suspension of Question Hour to discuss the issue.
Speaker Sumitra Maha-jan declined to suspend the Question Hour, saying she would allow Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge to speak later during the Zero Hour and if necessary allow a discus-sion. While members belonging to NCP, AIMIM and Left parties kept protesting from the aisle, the Question Hour continued with most of the questions being taken up.
Acknowledging that it is a serious issue, Parliamen-tary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said, “Government is ready to discuss and build a consensus on having a legislation on (religious) conversion.”(IANS)
