M A I N   N E W S

Parliament stalled over petrol price hike
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 4
Two days after the government hiked petrol prices by Rs 1.40 per litre, a vociferous Opposition repeatedly disrupted Parliament today demanding a rollback.

The trouble started right at the start of the question hour in both Houses, with the Opposition up on its feet pointing to breach of privilege by the government in announcing the hike in petrol prices outside Parliament when it was in session.

The Opposition members also demanded a roll back in petrol price hike. Both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha were adjourned till noon and then till 2 pm as Opposition members raised slogans, slamming the government for the price hike.

The protest started in the Lok Sabha as soon as the question hour started at 11 am. The Lower House was adjourned twice without transacting any business till 2 pm before being adjourned for the day.

Basudeb Acharia (CPM) was up on his feet demanding suspension of the question hour to take up a discussion on the price hike. “I have given notice for suspension of question hour,” he said as Speaker Meira Kumar called for the question hour. The Speaker’s repeated requests to allow the question hour to proceed proved futile, forcing her to adjourn the House till noon.

Around noon, the Trinamool Congress, the Left, the BJP and its allies such the SAD, the Shiv Sena and the Janata Dal (United) joined in the sloganeering, demanding a roll back in petrol price hike.

In the Rajya Sabha, the entire NDA - BJP, JD(U), SAD and Shiv Sena - protested as also the Left along with the AGP and the BSP. Samajwadi Party members were in the aisle raising slogans.

Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) accused the government of insulting Parliament by announcing the decision of petrol hike outside when the House was in session.

“This is insult to your dignity. This relates to the dignity of Parliament. Can you take Parliament so lightly?” Prasad said pointing towards the Chair and the Treasury Benches.

Supporting the BJP member, Naresh Agarwal (SP) raised a point of order saying it had been an established practice for the government to make any policy announcement in Parliament when the session is on.

The uproar

• Both Houses adjourned till noon and then till 2 pm amid sloganeering by Opposition members against price hike
• Opposition cries breach of privilege for government to announce hike outside Parliament when it was in session
• Government claims the decision was taken by oil companies