Congress again disrupts Rajya Sabha over Hyderabad airport

The Congress Thursday raised the issue of renaming Hyderabad airport again in the Rajya Sabha, forcing several adjournments.

A few questions were taken up during the question hour even as Congress members protested near the chairman's podium.

Raising the issue as soon as the house met at 11 a.m., Congress leader Hanumantha Rao accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government at the Centre for taking "political advantage".

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien, who was in the chair, tried to pacify the member, saying: "You are not the only person having love for Rajiv Gandhi...I have equal respect for Rajiv Gandhi."

"The issue was raised yesterday (Wednesday), it was responded to by the finance minister (Arun Jaitley)...If you want to raise the issue again, come with proper notice," Kurien said.

Agitated Congress members, however, trooped near the chairman's podium raising slogans, forcing the chair to adjourn the house for 10 minutes.

When the house met again, zero hour resumed. However, as soon as the question hour began at 12 noon, Congress members were on their feet again, protesting over the issue.

Amid the din, Chairman M. Hamid Ansari tried to take up the question hour. However, as Congress members raised slogans near the chairman's podium, the house was adjourned for 10 minutes again.

The scene was the same when the house reassembled. After taking some questions amid the protests, the chairman adjourned the house till 2 p.m.

The Congress was protesting naming of the domestic terminal of Hyderabad airport after Telugu Desam Party founder N.T. Rama Rao.

The central government, however, clarified that the international terminal continues to be named after Rajiv Gandhi and the domestic terminal has been named after N.T. Rama Rao. The Rajya Sabha has been seeing protests over the issue the past two days.