Opposition demand for SIT probe into Robert Vadra’s land deals paralyse Parliament

Opposition demand for an investigation into the alleged dubious land deals by Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra paralysed proceedings in Parliament today with the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessing two adjournments.

''Congress ka haath, damaad ke saath'' (hand of Congress is with the son-in-law) chanted BJP members, seeking to draw the attention on the Vadra issue in the Lok Sabha.

The ruling party members shouted back with chants 'Congress ka haath, janata ke saath, garib ke saath' (hand of Congress is with the people and the poor).

The BJP demanded the setting up of a Supreme Court-monitored special investigation team (SIT) to probe Vadra's land deals across Congress-ruled states like Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan.

"Our demand is that the SIT, which should be a multi-disciplinary authority to examine the alleged violation of the banking law, company law and income-tax law through these land deals, be set up and the probe monitored by the Supreme Court," BJP leader Yashwant Sinha told reporters outside the Parliament.

"Though there are several business schools which teach models of making money, there is one highly connected person who did not go to any such school but has given a model where no investment is made but windfall gains of thousands of crores are made,"  Sinha said sarcastically.

The Vadra issue dominated both the Houses even as protests against the Telangana proposal and the solar panel scam in Kerala continuing to agitate members' minds.

Soon after Lok Sabha assembled and obituary references were made, members of various parties raised issues with the Left targeting Congress on the solar scam in Kerala and some others voicing concern over violence in Kishtwar and other areas in the Jammu region.

The Rajya Sabha also witnessed similar scenes, with the main opposition BJP forcing adjournment of the House till noon on the same issue, minutes after it assembled for the day.

Amidst the continuing din, chairman Hamid Ansari's remarks whether members wished the House to become a "federation of anarchists" added fuel to the fire.

With both the opposition and treasury benches on their feet, Ansari too lost his cool..

"Every single rule in the rule book, every single etiquette is being violated...If the hon'ble members wish the House to become a federation of anarchists, then it is a different matter," Ansari remarked.

The din continued even after the upper house reassembled, with Rajiv Pratap Rudy of the BJP asking the chair for his view on a Zero Hour notice to raise the Vadra issue.

"There is scam that has taken place. It has rocked the nation. It involves somebody very important," Rudy said.

BJP members rose in support and Congress members were on their feet raising counter slogans, which forced a second adjournment of the House till 2pm.

Lok Sabha witnessed uproar during question hour with opposition targeting the government on several issues, including violence in Kishtwar, solar scam in Kerala as also the Vadra issue.

With the House in disorder, speaker Meira Kumar opted to adjourn the House till noon.

When the House reassembled, the Vadra issue again dominated with shouts and countershouts among opposition and ruling party members.

Left parties, meanwhile, demanded resignation of Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy and a judicial inquiry into solar panel scam.