Parliament disrupted over Kishtwar riots, Kerala scam

Both houses of parliament were disrupted Monday over various issues including the riots in Kishtwar, the alleged solar scam in Kerala and the purportedly illegal land deals of Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

As soon as the Lok Sabha met at 11 a.m., members of the Left parties rushed towards the speaker's podium over the solar scam that pertains to an alleged fraud by a woman and her partner who duped clients on the pretext of offering solar energy solutions at a discount.

They raised slogans and held banners which read "Solar scam in Kerala" and "Shame on the nation".

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members from Andhra Pradesh also raised the issue of a united Andhra Pradesh.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members raised the issue of Indian Administrative Service officer Ashok Khemka's allegations in land deals involving Vadra and the riots in Kishtwar town in Jammu and Kashmir.

As efforts by Speaker Meira Kumar went unheard, the house was adjourned till noon. Similar scenes were witnessed when the Lok Sabha reassembled at noon.

During the disruptions, TDP MP from Chitoor N. Shiv Prasad surprised members when he advanced to the podium dressed as Lord Krishna.

Following the ruckus, the speaker adjourned the house till 2 p.m.

In the Rajya Sabha also, Left members shouted slogans over Kerala's solar scam when it assembled at 11 a.m. Soon after, Chairman M. Hamid Ansari adjourned the house for 15 minutes and then till noon.

When the house reassembled at noon, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien allowed Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley of the BJP to make a statement on the Kishtwar riots, he was stopped by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla who said the government was ready to make a statement.

BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu objected to it saying the leader of opposition should be allowed to speak first.

The chair agreed that Jaitley should be allowed to speak.

However, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said the government should make the statement first.

As argument continued between the treasury and opposition benches, the Bahujan Samaj Party complained about not being allowed to speak on the issue.

Jaitley was Sunday stopped from entering Kishtwar, where communal violence since Friday claimed two lives.