Opposition protests over remarks of V K Singh, RSS chief disrupts RS

Rajya Sabha today witnessed two adjournments before noon after BSP launched a vociferous protest over V K Singh's alleged anti-Dalit remarks and SP created ruckus over RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's reported comments on Ram temple in Ayodhya.

No sooner did the House met and mourned the death of former member M A M Ramaswamy and the listed papers laid, BSP supremo Mayawati rose to say that the government's attitude over Singh's comments was "very sad and unfortunate".

As Deputy Chairman P J Kurien disallowed her and asked her to give a notice for making a statement, her party members rushed into the Well raising anti-government slogans.

Not to be left behind, Naresh Agarwal (SP) raised the issue of reported statement of Bhagwat over the construction of the temple.

Kurien did not allow this as well and asked them to make mentions during the Zero Hour. "Please give notice. This is against rules. You cannot make a statement without notice," he said. Immediately thereafter, SP members rushed into the Well of the House raising slogans.

Mayawati alleged that social and communal atomsphere in the country has detoriated since BJP came to power, as the government instead of taking action against the rabble-rousers was indulging in soft-peddling such issues.

"Dalit virodhi yeh sarkar nahi chalegi, nahi chalegi (anti-Dalit government will not be allowed)", "V K Singh murdabad (down with V K Singh)", the BSP members shouted.

With members of the two parties not listening to his pleas for order, Kurien adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

Similar scenes were witnessed when the House met at 11:30 hours with slogan-shouting BSP members again trooping into the Well.

Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) said while the issue of Ram Temple at Ayodhya was pending in courts, a communally tense situation was being created by Bhagwat's statement. Alleging collusion between government and RSS, he sought action against Bhagwat. Some of his party members too trooped in the Well.

To this, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government respected court's decision on the Ayodhya issue, but people have "fundamental right" to reiterate committment for construction of a temple.

However, he added the construction would be according to the court's decision.

On Singh's reported remarks, Naqvi also stated that the Minister has repeatedly clarified that he had not made any anti-Dalit comment.

But he could not douse the slogneering as some Congress members also rushed to the Well, forcing Kurien to adjourn the proceedings till 12 noon.