Rajya Sabha adjourned twice in pre-lunch sitting

The Rajya Sabha was disrupted twice on Friday as Congress members raised slogans against the government of "murdering democracy".

Congress members, who reached the Rajya Sabha a little before noon after a rally at Jantar Mantar, raised slogans in the house against the government.

The slogan shouting began as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Vijay Goel was making a zero hour mention on the odd-even traffic scheme in the capital.

In the din the house was adjourned till 12 noon.

Congress leader Anand Sharma said Congress leaders including party chief Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and party vice president Rahul Gandhi were arrested.

"Every one was arrested... we are protesting against the assault on democracy," said Sharma.

"This government is abusing and insulting the constitution," said Sharma.

Sharma also said a minister called the Rajya Sabha, where the BJP is in a minority, "Augusta House", in reference to the billowing AgustaWestland chopper deal bribery scam.

"A minister of this government has said that this 'august house' is 'Agusta house'," said Sharma.

Chairman M. Hamid Ansari however said: "This house has its own dignity, we don't need certificates from anybody."

He also refused to give a ruling in question hour.

The house was adjourned for 15 minutes after that.

--IANS

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