New Delhi: Rajya Sabha was adjourned briefly in the pre-lunch session after Congress members trooped into the Well raising anti-government slogans protesting against “assault on democracy”.
Congress members, who came to the House little before noon after a protest march at Jantar Mantar here, trooped into the Well raising slogans like ‘Modi teri tanaashahi nahi chalegi (Modi’s autocratic rule will not do)’.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien made repeatedly asked them to return to their seats, but to no avail.
BJP member Vijay Goel, who was called to raise his Zero Hour mention, said he cannot speak amidst slogan shouting.
As sloganeering continued, Kurien adjourn the House a few minutes before noon.
When the House met to take up the Question Hour at noon, Anand Sharma (Congress) said senior leader of his party including Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had been arrested.
“We were protesting against assault on democracy,” Sharma said as Congress members continued raising slogans in the Well.
He also alleged that a minister has made a statement that Rajya Sabha is ‘Agusta House’, an apparent reference to the controversial AgustaWestland deal.
To this, Chairman Hamid Ansari said the House “does not need certificate from anyone”.
Jairam Ramesh (Congress) too said something but could not be heard in the din. Ansari told him that he could not answer his query in the House.