Uproar in RS over petrol, diesel price hike

Chairman Hamid Ansari listed the issue for Zero Hour

Rajya Sabha was today adjourned for 15 minutes after uproar over the steep Rs 2.35 a litre hike in petrol price and 50 paisa a litre increase in cost of diesel.

Raising the issue soon after the House met for the day, Derek O'Brien of TMC said the fuel price issue should be discussed first as it concerns the people of the country.

Chairman Hamid Ansari then said the issue has been listed for Zero Hour.

But, TMC members supported by some Left members, continued to press for discussion on the issue.

O'Brien said the decision on raising petrol and diesel prices was announced outside the House when the Parliament was in session.

M Venkaiah Naidu (BJP) supported him saying besides the fuel price hike, the proposal to shut petrol pumps during night too needs to be discussed.

At this point, SP members led by Naresh Agarwal chipped in.

Ansari then observed, "I cannot do anything about it. There is an established practice of taking up Zero Hour issues."

He then asked the members if they wanted Zero Hour to be taken up or not.

With members persisting with their demand, he adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

Earlier, when the House met for the day, Naidu raised the issue of Rajya Sabha secretariat conveying to the media on Friday evening that certain remarks made by Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley during debate on state of economy were expunged.

Some words from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's response to the debate were also expunged but they were shown on television throughout the day. "How did this happen," Naidu asked.

As Ansari said he will look into the issue, Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) said Rajya Sabha Secretariat rang up television channels asking them not to run the remarks.

Najma Heputulla (BJP) said the procedure of deleting any comment made by any member is that it has to be brought to the notice of the Chair and it is he would deletes them by putting his signature.

Ansari said the records will be checked.