New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) The Rajya Sabha witnessed heated scenes during Zero Hour on Friday when Opposition members resorted to heavy sloganeering, demanding the Home Minister’s presence in the House and creating a continuous din that made proceedings inaudible.
Responding to the uproar, Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan told the Leader of Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, to make his statement provided he has something new to say. To which Kharge said he would make the same request for the Home Minister to come to the House and make a statement.
Kharge pointed out that the Chair had conveyed the demand of Opposition members to the government, but they (government) were not respecting the Chair’s appeal either.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju strongly opposed Kharge’s statement, accusing him of disrupting the House.
Rijiju asserted that the Home Minister remains present in Parliament from morning to evening and comes to the House only when departmental business is listed.
He recalled that the previous day the Leader of Opposition had only made an observation, which was communicated, but the Chair had given no direction for the Minister’s presence.
Rijiju said Opposition members resort to sloganeering and then leave the House.
He challenged that they (Opposition members) would not stay to listen when the Home Minister responds. He emphasised that the Opposition cannot decide the timing of a Minister’s appearance in the House.
Following the exchange, the Chairman permitted Prakash Chik Baraik of the BJP from West Bengal, P.P. Suneer of the CPI from Kerala and Amar Pal Maurya of the BJP from Uttar Pradesh to raise their matters.
The House was thereafter adjourned till noon.
Earlier in the morning, several important parliamentary committee reports and statements were laid on the Table.
Members tabled the 27th and 28th Reports on action taken by the government on recommendations concerning Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Defence for 2026-27, covering Defence Public Sector Undertakings, the Directorate of Ordnance, quality assurance directorates, the National Cadet Corps, and a review of Sainik Schools, the Rashtriya Indian Military College and Rashtriya Military Schools.
Sudha Murty and Kavita Patidar presented final action taken statements of the Committee on the Empowerment of Women on the working of the National Commission for Women and State Commissions, and health facilities for tribal women.
Govindbhai Laljibhai Dholakia and Satish Poonia laid statements of the Department-related Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development regarding further action taken on schemes of the Central Silk Board and Demands for Grants of the Ministries of Labour and Employment and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Mayankkumar Nayak tabled the 10th Report of the Committee on Welfare of Other Backward Classes on measures to secure OBC representation in employment and welfare in PSUs under the Department of Posts.
Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma made statements on the status of implementation of recommendations contained in various Standing Committee reports pertaining to the Ministries of Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Steel and Heavy Industries.
Separately, L. Murugan moved a motion for the election of one Member to the Central Silk Board.
Pratap Rao Jadhav moved a motion for the election of one woman Member to the National Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board.
Chirag Paswan moved a motion for the election of one Member to the Council of the National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management to fill a vacancy.
Dr L. Murugan also made a statement on Government Business for the remaining part of the 271st Session.
–IANS
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