Question Hour disrupted in Parliament

Angry protests by TMC over the Rail budget disrupted the proceedings in LS for the second day

Angry protests by Trinamool Congress over the Rail budget disrupted the proceedings in Lok Sabha for the second day and spread to Rajya Sabha today, with Parliament failing to transact business in the Question Hour.

Carrying placards, TMC members led by Kalyan Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee trooped in the Well shouting slogans as soon as Lok Sabha assembled for the day demanding "justice" for West Bengal in the Rail budget and condemning alleged attack on a woman party MP yesterday.

"We condemn undemocratic attack on opposition MPs in Lok Sabha by ruling party, 'Railway budget main Bengal ka hissa kya huwa' (what happened to Bengal's share in Rail budget), 'Mehangai hatao, desh bachao' (end price rise, save the country)," read some of the placards.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan objected to display of placards inside the House and warned the protesting members not to force her to be tough as carrying placards was not allowed.

"I am warning you not to carry placards. Go back to your seats. Do not force me to be tough. You can raise whatever issue you want during the debate on Rail budget," Mahajan told the agitating members.

She also said all MPs regularly get bulletins which clearly mention that placards are not allowed inside House.

TMC members, however, did not relent and continued with sloganeering, carrying the placards all the while.

"Prime Minister hai, hai", "Parliament par BJP ki goonda gardi nahi chalegi (we will not allow BJP's bullying tactics in Parliament)", "Prime Minister jawab do (PM give us reply)" and "Mamata Banerjee Zindabad" were some of the slogans which the TMC members kept shouting during the protests.

Some Kerala MPs were also in the Well protesting against alleged discrimination against their state in the Rail budget.

When Kalyan Banerjee (TMC) made some objectionable remarks targeting the Speaker, like "you are not Speaker of BJP, you are not Speaker of Narendra Modi", the entire ruling coalition stood up and strongly protested against the comments leading to adjournment of the House till noon.