Both houses of Parliament failed to transact any business again as an aggressive Opposition stalled the proceedings over the Lalit Modi controversy.
Confrontation between the Government and Opposition intensified in the Lok Sabha with the BJP hitting back at the Congress by raking up comments made by Robert Vadra on his Facebook and demanding action against him for “demeaning” MPs.
BJP leader Prahlad Joshi said, Vadra had “demeaned” Parliamentarians and wanted the issue to be referred to the Privileges Committee of Parliament and for Vadra to be brought before the House.
Joshi’s remarks added fuel to the fire as the Congress members had already stormed the Well of the House, continuing with their demands for the resignations of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in connection with the Lalit Modi controversy. Congress had also demanded the ouster of MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the Vyapam scam.
Vadra had vented his feelings through a Facebook post on Tuesday.
Sporting black ribbons, Congress leaders stormed the Well holding placards with slogans lampooning Narendra Modi’s ministers alleged liaisons with Lalit Modi.
“Bade Modi meherban, toh chhote Modi pehelwan” (a Hindi idiom meaning that a small person is strong if supported by a powerful person) said a placard. Other slogans said, “PM chuppi todo” (PM, break your silence), “Modi ji 56-inch dikhao, Sushma, Raje ko turant hatao“ (show your 56-inch chest by removing Swaraj and Raje).
The Speaker’s repeated warnings not to display placards were ignored as TRS members showed posters demanding a separate high court in Telangana.
As some Congress members blacked out the view of the Speaker by standing in front of the Treasury benches, a heated exchange of words took place between them and BJP members led by Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy.
The din created by the slogan-shouting forced the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day, minutes past noon.
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