New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday mourned the death of 10 BSF personnel in a plane crash in South West Delhi on Tuesday. Chairman Hamid Ansari mentioned the crash of BSF's Super King aircraft crashing at Dwarka area near the airport yesterday morning, killing all 10 onboard people and injuring some persons working near the site.
The House expressed heartfelt condolence and sympathy for the dead and prayed for speedy recovery of the injured. Members stood in silence as mark of respect to the departed. Ansari also mentioned of the passing away of former member Bir Bhadra Pratap Singh on December 19 at the age of 84 years. An advocate by profession, Singh represented the state of Uttar Pradesh in the Upper House from April 1984 to April 1990.
"In passing away of Bir Bhadra Pratap Singh, the country has lost a veteran freedom fighter and an able parliamentarian," he said deeply mourning his death. Members stood in the places as mark of respect for the departed soul.
When the House assembled after the brief adjournment, in an apparent reference to the Ayodhya issue, Pramod Tiwari (Cong) said the government runs according to the Constitution and if something is pending in Supreme Court it cannot be discussed outside.
Expressing concern over internal security, Digvijay Singh (Cong) said K C Tyagi should be allowed to go ahead with his statement on the Ayodhya issue. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien did not agree saying Tyagi should know that he should conclude his statement within three minutes during Zero Hour. He further said since the government has announced it would by the court order, therefore there was "no need of raising it (Ayodhya issue) again".
Kurien then asked members to make their Zero Hour mentions as Congress members continued to raise slogans demanding resignation of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Congress members later trooped in the Well continuing to raise slogans as some members made their Zero Hour mentions, which could not be heard in the din.
