NDA MPs demand action against Congress in Rajya Sabha

MPs said a washout of the Upper House is a serious matter and sought steps for its smooth functioning

Amid continued protests by Congress in Rajya Sabha forcing its repeated disruption, a number of MPs from the ruling coalition today met Chairman Hamid Ansari and demanded action against those causing disruptions.

Around 30 members of NDA met Ansari after the House was adjourned for the day a little after 2 pm and told him that a washout of the Upper House is a serious matter and sought action against those behind it and steps for its smooth functioning.

"You will appreciate that all members are equal and our rights as members are infringed upon by such disruptions... Conduct of some members of Congress is not allowing us to discharge our duty as MPs.

"We request you now to take action as per rules against such members, who are disrupting the House proceedings," the letter signed by NDA MPs to Ansari said.

They also said that they wished to raise important issues of public interest in the House but the disruptions and subsequent adjournments is depriving them of this opportunity.

Sources pointed out that the Chairman can suspend members only if a motion for doing so is moved. Attempts by the Chairman to suspend agitating members in the past have failed as members did not agree to suspensions in the absence of a consensus.

Members have, however, been named in the bulletin for creating ruckus and disrupting proceedings in the past.

The MPs told the Chairman that since Congress members are continuing with disruptions for over two weeks, a number of key legislations are pending before the House that needed to be taken up for passage.

Among some of the important legislations pending include the GST bill, Land Acquisition bill and the Real Estate Bill.

Incidentally, repeated attempts by the government to take up the Prevention of Corruption Act in the Upper House failed after protests and uproar by opposition.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has suspended 25 Congress MPs for causing disorder in Lok Sabha and Congress is protesting their suspension by boycotting the House.