New Delhi, November 23
The issues of capital punishment to Mohammad Afzal and detention of Samajwadi Party MP Abu Azmi today rocked both houses of Parliament.
While the Rajya Sabha adjourned without transacting any business, in the Lok Sabha papers listed for the day were tabled and the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Amendment Bill was introduced.
As the slogan-shouting BJP demanded carrying out of the death sentence on the Parliament attack convict members, Samajwadi Party members trooped into the well demanding release of party members Abu Asim Azmi and Atiq Ahamed, detained in Mumbai in connection with a rally.
“Hang Afzal”, chanted the BJP and its allies while the SP members targeted the Congress, accusing it of “murdering democracy” in Maharashtra.
Condemning the behaviour
of protesting members, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said, “It is very unfortunate. We are meeting after
three months and there are so many important issues”. He said MPs behaviour was not in keeping with the dignity of the House.
Amidst uproarious scenes, Deputy Chairman K. Rehman Khan adjourned the House for the day. Earlier, the House was adjourned till noon as the BJP and the SP members disrupted the question hour over the same issues.
The trouble started soon after Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat read out obituary reference. The Shiv Sena and the BJP members raised the Afzal issue.
On the other side, the SP members protested the denial of permission by the Maharashtra Government to hold a party rally in Mumbai last week.
Amidst all this, the ruling Congress members demanded that the House take up the question hour, which actually went unheard in all din.
TDP members were also seen holding placard, which read, “Livelihood of lakhs of beedi workers should be protected”.
DMK members too trooped into the well of the Lok Sabha but it was not clear which issue they were raising.
Mr Devendra Prasad Yadav, who was in the Chair when the House was adjourned for the day, made repeated attempts to calm the agitated members.
Amid the uproar, he ordered tabling of papers listed for the day as also special mentions and allowed Culture Minister Ambika Soni to introduce the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Amendment Bill.
