Parliament Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11 am amid Oppn ruckus on fuel prices
New Delhi/UNI: The Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 11 am on Monday after the Opposition created a ruckus demanding a discussion on the fuel price hike in the country.
Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu rejected their demand saying that the issue can be taken up during the discussion on the Appropriation Bill.
Soon after the Zero Hour got over and ‘Question Hour’ began, the Opposition Members raised slogans against the rising fuel prices and the Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge sought a discussion on increasing fuel prices.
While trying to placate the Opposition Bench, Naidu said, "I have received a notice under Rule 267 from the Leader of the Opposition to suspend Business to discuss the rising and frequent increase in fuel prices but I believe we can discuss the issue in the course of the discussion on Appropriation Bill”.
Kharge said, "This is a burning issue. You are well aware that the petrol prices are now nearly Rs 100 per litre and diesel is more than Rs 80 per litre and the entire country is suffering”.
The Chair interrupted Kharge from making a further remark on the issue but the latter did not pay any heed to it and continued to speak.
Describing the Rule 267 as the sole discretion of the Chair, Naidu said to the Leader of the Opposition that he allowed him to mention the subject, “but there are multiple opportunities to discuss it in the course of the Session, during appropriation of Bill discussion”, Naidu said.
The Congress MPs opposed the Chair’s ruling and kept on sloganeering despite the chairman's direction to maintain order in the House and allowed the proceeding of the ‘Question Hour’ in the House.
Pointing at the Opposition benches, who are raising slogans against the Government on rising fuel prices, Naidu also directed that these will not be reported or relayed.
"You do not want the House to continue, you want to deprive the people from questions.This a mockery of democracy”, the Chairman said, adding that he did not want to take any drastic action on the first day of the session.
But the Opposition Members were not ready to listen and kept on raising sloganeering following which Mr Naidu adjourned the House till 1100 hrs.
