National Herald case: Congress protests stall proceedings in both Houses of Parliament

Congress members in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha stormed into the well no sooner had they met for the day

A vociferous Congress today forced adjournment of both Houses of Parliament till 11:30 a.m., a day when party president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi had been asked to appear before court in connection with the National Herald case.

Congress members in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha stormed into the well of the houses no sooner had they met for the day, protesting over the "politics of revenge".

The court today allowed the exemption plea of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others for the day; they will now appear in court on December 19.

In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge to explain what his party was protesting. But Kharge did not respond to her as Sonia Gandhi, sitting next to him, gestured to him, apparently to not say anything.

After hearing Speaker's call, TMC leader Sudeep Bandopadhyay also asked Gandhi to respond to the Chair. She responded to him in gestures but could not be heard in the din.

TMC members were also on their feet but the reason for their protest could not be known due to the din.

Similar scenes were witnessed in Rajya Sabha where slogan-shouting Congress members stormed the well as soon as it met for the day.

They raised slogans like "Tanashahi nahi chalegi" (dictatorship will not be tolerated)" and "Badle ke rajnathi nahi chalegi (politics of revenge will not be tolerated).

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien got listed papers of the day tabled amid the din and asked Congress members to go back to their places and explain the reason for their protest.

"Instead of shouting slogan, one of you stand up and say what is your grievance," he said. "Let me also know... I am not able to understand anything."

Congress member however did not pay heed to his requests and continued shouting slogans.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said their problem is the court not the government.

Congress, he said, should respect the judicial process and work under the due process of law.

"At least the Chair must know what is the grievance, what is the provocation," Kurien said as he asked if the Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad would like to say anything.

Azad however did not oblige.

With Congress members unrelenting, both Houses were adjourned till 1130 hours.