Arunachal row rocks Rajya Sabha again, house adjourned

Proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were again disrupted by the opposition Congress on Thursday over the crisis in Arunachal Pradesh, forcing two adjournments in the pre-lunch session.

Soon after the house met at 12.37 p.m. after the first adjournment, Chairman Hamid Ansari tried to conduct question hour but Congress members started shouting slogans from their seats.

Amid the din, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani answered a question on mid-day meal in schools.

After a few minutes, Congress members trooped near the chairman's podium, forcing Ansari to adjourn the house till 2 p.m.

The winter session of the Arunachal Pradesh legislative assembly was held at a community hall on Wednesday with participation of only 34 legislators, including the deputy speaker in chair. Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and 26 Congress legislators, including the speaker, boycotted the session, terming it unconstitutional.

Governor J.P. Rajkhowa had convened the winter session from Wednesday instead of its normal schedule of January 14 next year.

Earlier, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad raised the Arunachal Pradesh issue at zero hour, questioning the conduct of the governor.

"How can the sitting of the house be done outside the assembly and in a private house? It has never been done in the history of independent India," Azad said.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said the notice given by Azad was under consideration of the chairman, so the matter could be discussed only after his ruling.

Janata Dal-United member Sharad Yadav and Communist Party of India-Marxist member Sitharam Yechuri also demanded the matter should be discussed immediately as it was urgent.

Congress members trooped near the chairman's podium and started shouting slogans.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the house when the opposition members raised slogans against him too.

Chairman Hamid Ansari then took the chair and requested the agitated members to allow the house to take question hour.

He then adjourned the house at 12.07 p.m. for 30 minutes.