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Rajya Sabha adjourned till April 12

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till April 12 amid uproarious scenes, with the Treasury benches trying to raise the Jehanabad massacre and the adamant Opposition demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee inquiry into the allegations of corruption levelled by sacked naval chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat.

As soon as the House met, several members from the Treasury benches and the Opposition were on their feet, pressing their respective demands.

Repeated requests by Chairman Krishan Kant to restore order went in vain. He initially adjourned the House till 1200 hours.

As the House re-assembled at 1200 hours after the first adjournment, the entire Opposition was on its feet, even before Krishan Kant could take his chair. The Treasury benches continued protesting against the Jehanabad massacre, while the Congress members demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the recent killing of cartoonist Irfan Hussain.

Sensing the mood of the House, the chairman announced the adjournment till April 12.

The Rajya Sabha had not been conducting any business for the past three days with the Opposition stalling the proceedings. Today was an extended session for the Rajya Sabha.

With today's adjournment, the government business, including the Railway Budget and the Central Vigilance Commission bill, 1999, could not be passed. These have been cleared by the Lok Sabha, which was yesterday adjourned also till April 12 for a recess.

UNI

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