Opposition disrupts pre-noon sitting of RS; House adjourned

Opposition parties led by Congress today persisted with their demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should reply to a discussion on communal flare-up in the country, forcing adjournment of Rajya Sabha till noon.

For the fourth day in succession, Congress and other opposition parties demanded presence of the Prime Minister in the House and his reply to the debate on the issue, stalling proceedings, which government said displayed "arrogance of numbers."

Opposition members, however, persisted with their demand that proceedings be suspended and taking up the debate. The treasury benches however opposed this. With the stalemate continuing, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien adjourned the House till noon.

Anand Sharma (Congress) said by rejecting the Opposition demand, "the Government is being arrogant."

He said Opposition parties want the House to run but for that Prime Minister should come and reply to the debate.

Finance Minister and Leader of the House Arun Jaitley said Prime Minister coming to the House and making a statement disapproving of a comment by a Union minister should have had a sobering effect.

He said the other House, Lok Sabha was functioning normally and it was only Rajya Sabha which was being disrupted.

This, he said, reflected that "it is arrogance of numbers and not the arrogance of the government."

The ruling NDA, which has a commanding majority in Lok Sabha, is in minority in the Upper House.

Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said Lok Sabha was functioning because of "tyranny of majority".