Oppn refuses to let RS function until issue of religious conversions is debated

TMC protested outside Parliament wearing black shawls and holding placards

The government was put on the backfoot on Monday as the Opposition joined ranks in the Rajya Sabha demanding that the “burning issue” of forcible religious conversions “gharvapasi” be taken up for a threadbare discussion. With the Chair not permitting this, the Opposition protested not allowing any business to be transacted.

The Congress  party's Anand Sharma and CPI (M)'s Sitaram Yechury reiterated that no other business was as urgent as exposing the “whole package “of the communal agenda that has been unleashed across the country. Adding to the protests were Trinamool Congress MPs who directly accused the BJP Party President of “writing the script of CBI.” TMC minister Madan Mitra has been arrested by the CBI in connection with the Sarada chit fund scam. 

No sooner had the house assembled that protests were heard from the Opposition benches. The DMK too had an issue of a local examination question which allegedly targetted their party chief Jayalalitha. Leader of the House Arun Jaitley said the matter will be looked into and resolved. 

TMC which had already aimed at targeting the government over what it termed as ‘BJP vendetta politics’ protested outside Parliament wearing black shawls and holding placards. They then took their protets indoors and raised slogans in the house against the government alleging that CBI was being used for political vendetta. Arun Jaitley’s statement that the Saradha probe was being monitored by the Supreme Court and not the government did not placate the TMC. 

However all these isasues were superseded by the issue of religious conversions as the Opposition demanded that the matter be taken up for immediate discussion. Yechury drew attention of the house to the government’s education department directive to Navodaya Vidyalayas to celebrate the birthday of Atal Behari Vajpayee on Christmas Day this year. 

“Converstions, this issue, its all part of a package of communal agenda which strikes at the heart of the secular democratic Constitution of India, “ said Yechury. Following loud protests the house was adjourned till lunch. The government is keen on having the house function as it has heavy legislative business.