Rajya Sabha adjourned over minister's abusive remark

Disruptions over an abusive remark by union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti continued in Rajya Sabha Friday, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the members to allow the house to function.

As soon as the house met, members were on their feet demanding that the minister be dismissed.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien tried to pacify the members, but as the din continued the house was adjourned till noon.

When the house reassembled for the Question Hour at noon, the scene remained the same.

Communist Party of India-Marxist's (CPI-M) Sitaram Yechury urged Chairman M. Hamid Ansari to allow passage of a resolution condemning the remark.

Reading out from a book on proceedings of Rajya Sabha, Yechury said: "...exhorting people to preserve and promote amity and harmony and to uphold secular democratic traditions of India in the context of Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi dispute, a resolution was passed by this house."

"There is a precedence to allow us to move a resolution in the house condemning the remarks that were made that led to the same disharmony," the Left leader said.

"Let the resolution be considered, that is the way to break the impasse," said Yechury.

The chairman, however, said he cannot admit a resolution without a notice.

"The chair cannot be part of political process," said Ansari.

Yechury then suggested that the prime minister's speech be put to vote.

However, the proposal was disapproved by both the chair as well as the government.

With the protests continuing, the house was first adjourned for half an hour, and then till 2.30 p.m.

The minister reportedly said at a public meeting here: "Aapko tay karna hai ki Dilli mein sarkar Ramzadon ki banegi ya haramzadon ki." (You have to decide if you want a government in Delhi to be led by the children of Lord Ram or illegitimate children).