Naidu slams Opposition for creating uproar, delaying Parliament proceedings

Slamming the Opposition over the delaying in filling up vacancies in the statutory commissions for minorities, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu asserted that the Congress still cannot accept their defeat in the recent Assembly Elections and was coming up with 'lame reasons' to create an uproar in the House and delay the proceedings.

"The Rajya Sabha today again adjourned as opposition members protested delay in filling up of vacancies in the statutory commissions for minorities, SCs, STs and OBCs after which the upper house was finally adjourned for the day," said Naidu to the reporters here.

Soon after the House assembled for the day, the proceedings were adjourned for 10 minutes and as the Opposition members raised the issue of delay in filling up of vacancies.

"The Congress has been behaving in Rajya Sabha, since the mandate has revealed their loss in the recent election. They have been acting crazy and bringing out protest all the time," said Union Minister.

However, Opposition members continued their protest and the house were adjourned for the second time till noon.

Later, it was adjourned for the third time till 12.30 p.m, and again for the fourth time till 2 p.m.

When the House met after lunch, the Opposition members demanded a discussion under Rule 267 on the topic and sought an assurance from the government to fill up the vacancies within a week. However, the Chair did not accept any of the four notices given under Rule 267.

But the opposition members insisted on a discussion and trooped to the Chairman's podium.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien proposed to take up the discussion on Wednesday post-lunch but the members did not agree.

Kurien then adjourned the house for the day.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was scheduled to reply to the discussion on the Finance Bill 2017 at 3.30 p.m.