New Delhi: Both Houses of Parliament were stalled on Wednesday by protests by Opposition parties. In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Venkaiah Naidu adjourned proceedings for about an hour till noon as members protested the suspension of 12 Opposition MPs for “unruly” conduct in the previous session in August. The issue has caused repeated obstructions in the House. In Lok Sabha, this was adjourned till 2 PM; Opposition parties are demanding the immediate removal of Union Minister of State (Home) Ajay Mishra in connection with the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3rd.
The issue has been raised a day after a special investigation team of the Uttar Pradesh police told a local court the incident was a “planned conspiracy” to kill farmers. The minister’s son, Ashish Mishra, is one of the 13 accused arrested. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi moved a notice in Lok Sabha Wednesday seeking adjournment of business to discuss a “definite matter of urgent importance”; the SIT report on Lakhimpur Kheri.
Gandhi said the government should “immediately sack” Mishra and “ensure justice is delivered to the families of the victims”. The Congress Tuesday issued a whip to its Rajya Sabha members to be present in the House today. Party chief whip Jairam Ramesh said, “very important issues will be taken up for discussion in Rajya Sabha”. The Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2021 is expected to be taken up in Rajya Sabha today. In Lok Sabha, The Appropriation Bill is likely to be introduced and passed.