Ruckus in Rajya Sabha over Goa Governor

The Rajya Sabha was on Friday disrupted by Congress members during Zero Hour over the role of Goa Governor Mridula Sinha in the formation of the new BJP government in the state.

The Chair briefly adjourned the House after Congress members trooped near the Chairman's podium and started shouting slogans.

Soon after the House met, Congress member Digvijay Singh demanded a discussion on the Governor's role under Rule 267, which entails suspending the listed business of the day and starting a discussion.

But Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien turned down the notice saying the role of the Governor can be discussed only under a Substantive motion.

Digvijay Singh referred to to an interview given to Mumabi Mirror by the Governor where she said that she reached the decision to invite Manohar Parrikar to form the government after consulting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Singh quoted Sinha's words: "I didn't speak with the Centre, no one approached me, no one called me. Then Parrikar informed me around 6.30 p.m. on Sundaya. I felt I should speak with Arun Jaitley, and I called him around 9.30 in the evening, discussing the situation. So that settled it."

Despite the Congress being the single largest party in Goa, the Governor invited the Bharatiya Janata Party led by former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to form the government.

Parrikar on Thursday won the trust vote in the Goa assembly.

The Congress members objected to Sinha consulting a Union Minister before making a decision.

Deputy Leader of Opposition Anand Sharma said that it was violation of Article 164 (1) of the Constitution.

However, Kurien said that he could not allow a discussion on the matter merely going by newspaper reports.

Soon after, the Congress members trooped near the Chairman's podium and shouted slogans "Loktantra ki hatya band karo" (Stop murdering democracy) and "Narendra Modi teri tanashahi, nahi chalegi (Narendra Modi, autocracy won't be tolerated)

As the din continued, Kurien adjourned the house till 12 noon.

--IANS

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