Lok Sabha adjourned for day amid opposition ruckus
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New Delhi: Persistent opposition ruckus on Thursday forced Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House for the day, after two brief adjournments earlier.
The Speaker adjourned the House for the day when opposition members led by the Congress continued with their protest over several issues, including farmers' issues and media reports about a BJP leader in Kerala allegedly taking bribes in lieu of promising Medical Council of India recognition for a private college.
Soon after the House met at 12 noon after a washout of the Question Hour, Mahajan rejected all the notices of adjournment by opposition leaders.
The angry opposition leaders then trooped near the Speaker's podium and started sloganeering against the NDA government.
Amid the din, papers were laid and some reports were tabled.
Mahajan then adjourned the House for the day expressing anguish over the behaviour of opposition members.
Earlier, the House was adjourned twice during Question Hour as the opposition members continued their sloganeering.
The House was first briefly adjourned for 20 minutes till 11.30 a.m. and then 12 noon.
Soon after the House met for the second time, the Congress-led Opposition stood up and started shouting slogans.
The Congress leaders raised the issue of farmers. They were also seen mentioning some media reports.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar hit out at opposition party leaders for their absence from the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, when the the agrarian crisis was debated.
"Congress has nothing to do with the farmers' plight. They are shedding crocodile tears," Kumar said. "Yesterday (Wednesday) we were discussing the agrarian crisis. The discussion was held till 10 p.m. But we saw that there were only two Congress members in the House."
He also said the entire Opposition bench was lying vacant. "They have no concern for farmers. Congress and other opposition leaders should not disturb the House. They should let the House function," Kumar added.
