Ruckus in Parliament as PM’s appeal falls on deaf ears

The second half of the Budget session of Parliament began on a stormy note today as members from various parties forced the adjournment of both houses on various issues, despite an appeal by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the opposition should allow Parliament to function as the government was willing to discuss all issues.

Among the stormy issues was the heckling of Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee in the capital; the brutal rape of a child in Delhi, and the demand for a separate Telangana state.

The Trinamool Congress has said it will not allow Parliament to function till action is taken against the "guilty" people who allegedly attacked Banerjee when she was visiting Delhi.

After Speaker Meira Kumar made obituary references, members of the Trinamool Congress and the Left parties trooped into the well of the Lok Sabha raising opposing slogans – while the TMC was irate over the heckling of West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee by Student Federation of India activists in Delhi, the Left was agitated over alleged human rights violations in the state.

It may be recalled that earlier this month, an SFI activist was allegedly beaten to death by Kolkata police, who later made the rather implausible explanation that he had died accidentally.

A number of Bharatiya Janata Party members also raised slogans in the well against the incidents of rape across the country, demanding action against the perpetrators.

Some members of the Congress were seen in the aisles waving placards for a separate state of Telangana to be carved out of Andhra Pradesh. A Telugu Desam Party member raised the same demand in the well.

'Delhi is not safe' read a placard held by a Trinamool member which had a picture of Banerjee.

Amid slogans of 'Jai Telangana', 'take action against rapists', the Speaker adjourned the House till noon.

In Rajya Sabha, chairman Hamid Ansari said he had got eight notices for suspension of Question Hour to take up discussion on various matters.

"It is my sincere wish that House will function. If there are any concerns of the opposition we are willing to debate all those issues," Manmohan Singh told reporters shortly before Parliament resumed the budget session after a month-long break. However, his appeal was in vain.

The Prime Minister also expressed confidence that the financial business would be transacted.

The BJP had sought adjournment of Question Hour in both houses of Parliament to raise the issue of the leakage of joint parliamentary committee (JPC) report on the 2G spectrum scam.