Back in LS, agitating Cong members force adjournment

New Delhi: Proceedings in Lok Sabha were disrupted today with the House witnessing four adjournments due to continued noisy protests by the Opposition over various issues, as Congress members returned to the Lower House which they had boycotted last week.

The 25 Congress members, whose five-day suspension by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan ended on Friday evening, were back in the House in full strength. During their suspension, some opposition parties, including Congress, boycotted the proceedings while several others expressed their solidarity by walking out of the House all these days.

The vociferous protests by Congress and other opposition members today led the House to adjourn thrice since it assembled in the morning and the fourth time when it was adjourned till tomorrow. Agitated Congress members, wearing black bands, trooped in the Well several times holding placards and shouting slogans against the government over the Lalit Modi controversy and Vyapam scam.

Though the Lok Sabha took up some business amidst the sloganeering, the House was adjourned for the day by Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai soon after it met at 2 PM.

Earlier at 12.30 PM when the Deputy Speaker proceeded with the business by taking up Zero Hour, the Congress members protested demanding that since the House was not in order it should be adjourned.

Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge said “all our members were suspended under the Rules … For disorder and showing placard. The Rules also say that when the House is not in Order, no business will take place.”

“When we are in the Well raising an issue, we are suspended. But when the House is not in order, business still take place… I would request you that since the House is not in order, please suspend the business,” the Congress leader said. Thereafter, the Congress member continued their protests forcing Thambidurai to adjourn the House till 2 PM.

In the din, Minister of State for Shipping P Radhakrishnan also introduced the Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill, 2015, in the House.