Rajya Sabha disrupted over Ram temple, DDCA row

The Rajya Sabha's proceedings were briefly disrupted twice in the pre-lunch session on Wednesday over the issues of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and alleged irregularities in the DDCA.

Soon after the upper house met for the day, Janata Dal-United member K.C. Tyagi raised the issue of stones being transported and carved for constructing the proposed Ram temple at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.

He said that tension is being created in Ayodhya, where the Babri mosque once stood.

"A similar situation (to what prevailed earlier) is being created in Ayodhya once again. Tension is being incited," Tyagi said.

Members of the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress too supported him.

BSP leader Mayawati accused the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh of trying to derive political mileage by again raking up the Ram temple issue.

"There should not be anything that is in contempt of the Supreme Court. It's the responsibility of the Uttar Pradesh government to maintain law and order," she said.

"Stones are being polished since 1990, and the site is around one-and-a-half km away from the disputed site. Second, both the government and the BJP firmly believe the court decision should be respected and we will respect it," Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

"There is no restriction on carving of stones; it does not mean the Ram temple is being constructed," he said.

However, members of the Congress and Samajwadi Party trooped near the chairman's podium and shouted slogans against the government.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien adjourned the house for 10 minutes.

As the house reassembled at 11.34 a.m., Congress members again trooped near the chairman's podium to demand the resignation of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over the Delhi and District Cricket Association issue.

Chairman Hamid Ansari requested the Congress members not to disrupt the proceeding on the last day of the winter session but his request was ignored.

He then adjourned the house till 1.00 p.m.