On a day the BJP crossed the 100-mark in the Rajya Sabha, a united Opposition forced multiple adjournments protesting against the government over rising prices of petroleum products and essential commodities, leading to a complete washout. In the Lok Sabha too, members of the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), DMK, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) walked out protesting on the same issue.
For the first time during the second part of the Budget session, the Opposition parties held informal consultations to stall the proceedings with the DMK taking the lead. Its Tiruchi Siva among others had moved notices under Rule 267 to suspend the business of the day to debate the frequent fuel price hikes. In last two weeks, every day, there has been a minor increase in the prices of petrol and diesel. The total hike now amounts to ₹8.40 a litre.
Venkaiah Naidu’s refusal
The House had to be adjourned after noisy protests from the Opposition MPs, who were standing at their desk after Chairman Venkaiah Naidu refused to allow a debate on the subject, saying the Opposition had ample opportunity to raise it during the debates on the Finance Bill and the Appropriation Bill. The House reconvened at 12:00 but had to be adjourned within four minutes as the Opposition continued with its protests.
The third adjournment came post-lunch when the House met at 2:00 p.m. Opposition MPs stormed into the well of the House. Amid the commotion, TMC’s Derek O’Brien said his party wanted to raise the issue of long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill, while Mr. Siva complained that the Opposition notices were not given due regard.
Commending the Opposition parties for their united action, Congress chief whip Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “Today the combined Opposition forced an adjournment of the Rajya Sabha for the entire day on the issue of continuing hike in petrol, diesel, cooking gas, and also increase in prices of other essential commodities, especially edible oil and fertilisers.”
In the Lok Sabha, as soon as the Zero Hour began, DMK members trooped into the well shouting slogans. They wanted to raise the issue of the recall of the Tamil Nadu Governor. Soon, members from other Opposition parties came into the well, raising slogans against fuel price rise. BJP’s Rajendra Agarwal, chairing the proceedings, continued to run the Zero Hour despite the protests. At this, the Congress, DMK, TMC, Left parties, Shiv Sena and the NCP staged a walkout.
“We wanted to raise the issue of price rise and fertilizers. The DMK wanted to raise the issue of withdrawal of Governor of Tamil Nadu. All of us wanted to raise the issue of price rise but were not allowed. So we walked out,” Congress whip Manickam Tagore said.
Outside Parliament, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi put a comparative chart on how much it cost to fill a full tank of petrol and diesel between now and May 2014 and tweeted, “Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan LOOT Yojana”.
