BJP accuses UPA of deliberately stalling proceedings in the RS

A disgruntled BJP today accused the UPA and its supporters ( BSP and SP) of deliberately disrupting proceedings in the Rajya Sabha repeatedly leading to yet another adjournment. The Upper house had to be adjourned for the day after the BSP members trooped into the well of the house, demanding the construction of a memorial for Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar in Mumbai. The Rajya Sabha is slated to take up the debate on the crucial FDI issue tomorrow. 

Speaking to reporters, Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley today said, “I have a lurking suspicion that the government is unsure where the vote on FDI will go in the Rajya Sabha. The government is not serious about conducting business particularly in the Rajya Sabha.”

The upper house had to be adjourned in the morning on the same issue and then yet again at noon, after repeated sloganeering by the BSP. The SP members were not too far behind and then raised slogans protesting the move to bring in the constitutional amendment bringing in quotas for SC/STs in jobs.

Arun Jaitley was to raise the issue of derecognition of the Indian Olympic Association at noon but could not do so because of the disruptions. Jaitley later said, “Every day members from the ruling party and its supporting party are disrupting the house. The leader of the house should come and explain if they want the house to run or not." He then reiterated that he wanted the Prime Minister to come and clarify his government’s intention whether it wants to allow the upper House to function smoothly or not.

Despite the fact that the government made a statement regarding construction of the Ambedkar memorial in Mumbai, BSP chief Mayawati asked the government to explain by when it would complete construction of the memorial.

Responding to this, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla said the government was taking action and promised to give a statement on the issue by Thursday. The UPA is on a weak wicket as far as numerical strength goes in the Rajya Sabha.
No business has been transacted in the upper house since Monday.