UPSC exam row creates turmoil in Parliament

The UPSC exam row generated heat in both Houses of Parliament with a member tearing a paper and throwing it towards the Speaker in Lok Sabha and almost the entire opposition staging a walkout in the Upper House as Government refused to set a time-line for resolving the issue.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prakash Javadekar also came under sharp attack in Rajya Sabha from the Opposition which demanded an apology from him after he allegedly "instigated" members of the treasury benches to protest when the issue was raised.

Opposition members created uproar over the issue in both Houses leading to adjournment of Rajya Sabha thrice before lunch.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said government has taken the ongoing agitation by UPSC aspirants on the issue very seriously and is studying all aspects.

"Government has taken the issue very seriously and is considering every aspect. The report has been given by the Committee on the issue only a day ago. The report is being studied. Government wants this to be resolved as soon as possible," Singh told the Rajya Sabha.

This, however, did not satisfy the agitating members who sought a clear time-frame to be set to resolve the issue and staged a walkout.

In the Lok Sabha, an agitated RJD member Rajesh Ranjan stormed the Well waving a newspaper while seeking a statement on the UPSC exam row and later tore the newspaper and threw it in the Well, with some landing on the Speaker's table.

Later, during his Zero Hour mention, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan chided at him saying his behaviour in the House was not proper, forcing him to apologise, not once but twice.

In the Rajya Sabha when members pointed out that the seven-day time-frame set by the government to come out with a statement on the issue in the House had expired, Minister of State for Personnel Jitender Singh said, "Government has received the report today. It is a sensitive issue. There are different views on it. Give me time to study it."

Admitting that the time sought by the Government has expired, the Minister pointed out that there were holidays in between and Government got only 4-5 days to look into it.