Irked over a remark by Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in Rajya Sabha today, Opposition members including those from Congress stormed into the Well demanding an apology from him, leading to a near washout of the crucial Zero Hour.
Trouble began when Naqvi, replying to Anand Sharma's (Congress) remark that there was "frustration among youth" due lack of jobs, said there was a sense of optimism in the country but if there is "fustration and disappointment" in that party, he cannot help it.
Raising the issue of unemployment in the country, Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said Modi government has failed to honour its promise to voters of creating two crore jobs annually.
Endorsing his views, Sharma said it was serious matter and the situation is such that "there is frustration among the youth, jobs are not being created".
Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) too voiced his concern over the employment situation in the country.
Disagreeing with the comments of opposition parties, Naqvi said "jobs are being created in every field. If Anand Sharma says that there is frustration and disappointment and if there is frustraction and disappointment among my friends in Congress then there is no solution for it".
The statement evoked sharp reactions from Congress, JD-U, SP and the Left members.
Slogan-shouting Congress and JD-U members trooped into the Well demanding an apology from the minister. SP members were standing in the aisle and Left members were also on their feet.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien objected to members entering the Well, saying if there is anything "unparliamentary", it would be expunged. However, the protesting MPs did not budge. An angry Kurien said that "on pretext of slightest provocation", members cannot come into the Well.
Yechury said the minister should not name any particular party.
Naqvi countered the protestors and asked "wasn't it unparliamentary to say that the country is frustrated".
Amid continued uproar, Kurien adjourned the House till noon.
When the House reassembled to take up the Question Hour, Naqvi maintained that he had not said anything unparliamentary but took the name of a party which should be removed from the record.
Similar scenes were witnessed when the House met at noon
as Chairman Hamid Ansari's pleas for allowing the Question Hour to be taken up fell on deaf ears.
Soon after the House reassembled, Naresh Agrawal (SP) rose to raise a Point of Order, but was disallowed by the Chairman.
While Agrawal said he wanted to raise a "very serious Point of Order", Ansari said, "No Point of Order during Question Hour".
As the Chairman directed starting of the Question Hour, Congress and other Opposition members, who were standing in the aisles, raised slogans and rushed to the Well.
Slogans like "Pradhan Mantri House mein aao" (Prime Minister, come to the House) rent the air, which were countered by the treasury benches with "Pradhan Mantri Zindabad" (Hail Prime Minister).
While TMC members raised slogans of "Modi Sarkar Hai Hai" (Down with Modi government), Congress members raised the slogan "Modi teri tanashahi nahin chalegi" (Your dictatorship will not be allowed).
Amid the continued din in the House, the Chairman adjourned the House till 1400 hours.
As the House reconvened at 1400 hours, Samajwadi Party
leader Naresh Agarwal raised a point of order against undermining of the Rajya Sabha.
He argued the government had brought in a Bill in the Lok Sabha yesterday to amend the Income Tax Act.
He said that the Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016, has not been put before the Rajya Sabha and the aim was to convert it into a Money Bill after which the Rajya Sabha will be forced to pass it.
Agarwal said the government was determined to "undermine" the Upper House, a charge that was supported by other Opposition parties including the Congress.
He demanded that a committee be set up to look into issues affecting the prestige of the House.
This move was supported by the Congress leaders Rajiv Shukla and Jairam Ramesh and those from other parties who said it was a serious matter that many bills were being introduced as Money Bill by the government which undermined Rajya Sabha.
SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said moves to bring down the prestige of the House should not be allowed.
Giving his ruling, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said the Constitution is very clear on what is a Money Bill and what is not. He also asked Agarwal to give a proper notice for setting up of a committee.
Kurien then took up discussion on the demonetisation issue, following which the Congress and BSP leader trooped into the Well of the House demanding the presence of the Prime Minister.
Following continued sloganeering, Kurien adjourned the House for the day.
