M A I N   N E W S

Gujarat issue rocks LS, RS
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 22
Gujarat was back in focus in Parliament today as an agitated and determined Opposition paralysed proceedings in both the Houses over the dissolution of the Gujarat Assembly, demanding the dismissal of Chief Minister Narendra Modi and imposition of President’s rule in the state.

While the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day amid uproarious scenes in the morning itself after Chairman Krishan Kant had adjourned it once before till 12.20 p.m., the Lok Sabha was also adjourned for the day when it reassembled after lunch break.

Din continued in the Lok Sabha when it met again after the break and Deputy Speaker P.M. Sayeed finally called it a day when the Opposition showed no signs of relenting.

Earlier in the morning, a firm Speaker Manohar Joshi refused to yield to the demand of a combined Opposition for the suspension of question hour. After nearly an hour of slogan-shouting he adjourned the House till after lunch.

Shortly after the Lok Sabha assembled, Congress and RJD members stormed into the well raising slogans “we want 356 (imposition of President’s rule under Article 356) “ and “Modi hatao, desh bachao” (remove Modi, save the country).

It was a test of nerves between the Speaker and the charged Opposition with Mr Joshi going through the listed business disregarding the slogan-shouting for nearly an hour. With the Opposition showing no signs of relenting even during zero hour that followed question hour, the Speaker adjourned the House for two hours.

This is the first time that Mr Joshi had to resort to such a step to adjourn the House in such a situation since he became the Speaker in May.

When the House reassembled at 2 pm after the first adjournment, the Opposition kept up its chant with Mr Sayeed calling it a day.

Similar Opposition protests were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha where Mr Krishan Kant first adjourned the House for an hour and later for the day as the uproar continued.