Parliament logjam continues, Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 noon

 

The adjournment was called after Congress leader Anand Sharma made a statement targeting the government in the Rajya Sabha.

Amid protests over the Vyapam Scam and the Lalit Modi row, Sharma said it is the responsibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respond to these issues.

Earlier an all-party meeting held to break the political deadlock in Parliament has proved futile though efforts are being made to convene another meeting to ensure that normalcy is restored.

The Congress-led opposition has stuck to its demand for resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Lalit Modi issue demanding that the government has to take a call.

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who was present at the meeting assured that the government would try to hold another meeting at some point.

Sittings have not been held in Parliament for two days following the death of President APJ Abdul Kalam on Monday evening. On Thursday both houses were adjourned early.

A recalcitrant opposition has been hell bent on not allowing parliament to function unless the government concedes its demands. But the Treasury bench has made it clear that there will be no resignation.

The situation has led to total disruption of proceedings in both houses of parliament every day for more than a week.