Telangana, 2G scam report prevent Parliament from functioning for 2nd day

New Delhi: Proceedings in Parliament were washed out for the second consecutive working on Tuesday as Opposition members created pandemonium on a host of issues including JPC report on 2G, Telangana, price rise and death of children in relief camps for Muzaffarnagar (UP) riot victims.

The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha could not function normally as they witnessed slogan-shouting by members. Due to the uproar, Lok Sabha was adjourned twice and Rajya Sabha thrice before final adjournment. Both the Houses could not transact any substantial business.

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Trouble started as soon as both the Houses assembled for the day with members of BJP, Telugu Desam Party, Left and BSP creating ruckus over various issues.

In both Houses, BJP members were on their feet and protested against the changes made by JPC Chairperson P C Chacko in the panel's report on 2G scam, which gave clean chit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Pandemonium was witnessed in the Rajya Sabha as the JPC report was tabled by Congress member Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu.

While members of BJP, Left and TMC opposed the tabling of the controversial report, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien ruled that the 'Terms of Reference' contained in the motion of the JPC had no provision which permits a discussion on its report adopted duly by the committee.

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Deputy Leader of BJP Ravishankar Prasad, who was a member of the 30-member JPC, raised a point of order to allege that his dissent note had been altered and wondered whether the matter should not be debated in the House.

Quoting a rule from Article 105 of the Constitution, he said he had the right to administer a note of dissent as a member of the panel.

"I had given a strong dissent note...the guilty have been left...the report should not be tabled," Prasad said.

Strongly backing his colleague on the issue, Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley said he invites a ruling from the Chair whether the Chairman of a Parliamentary panel can delete only some unparliamentary words or "can alter the substance of the dissent note given by a member."

"Substance of the dissent note given by members of the House has been altered by the Chairman. Please give us a ruling. Whether it is permissible," he said.

Kurien said that while the Leader of the Opposition has raised a "valid point", the Chair is unable to make any comment as it has not seen or read the report.

As BJP members trooped into the Well shouting "Shame, Shame," Kurien adjourned the House till 2 PM.

Similar scenes were witnessed when the House reassembled with DMK and AIADMK members also protesting against the JPC report. After five minutes, the House was adjourned for the day. Amid the din, two bills were introduced.

Besides JPC report, some other issues were also raised by other members.

Members of Samajwadi Party were on their feet on the issue of rise in prices of essential commodities, while TDP members opposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

In the Lok Sabha, notices for a no-confidence motion could not be taken up due to uproar over a host of issues including Telangana and JPC report on 2G scam.

Three separate notices were given on Monday by six Congress members from Seemandhra region, TDP and YSR Congress, as part of their attempt to stall division of Andhra Pradesh and creation of Telangana.

Speaker Meira Kumar said she had received the notices but maintained that House should be in order so that the issue could be considered.

Seemandhra MPs, including YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, vociferously protested creation of Telangana and demanded a united Andhra Pradesh.

Along with them, BJD members alleged discrimination towards cyclone-hit Odisha by the Centre, while DMK members were in the Well opposing the training of Sri Lankan Navy personnel in the country.

Left members trooped into the Well with placards demanding inquiry into role of ministers in the Saradha chit fund scam in West Bengal. TMC members, whose party is in power in the state, countered this charge by walking into the Well and raising slogans.

BJP members were on their feet and protested against the changes made by JPC Chairperson P C Chacko in the panel's report on 2G scam.

BSP members also stormed the Well and displayed newspaper report clippings on the death of 40 children in relief camps for Muzaffarnagar riot victims.

Kumar's repeated attempts to bring order in the House went in vain. Though some agitating members returned to their seats, they were soon back in the Well which prompted her to adjourn the House for the day.

In view of the ruckus, no business could be taken up for the second consecutive working day.