New Delhi, March 5 "This is Parliament, not a bazaar," said Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday as he adjourned the House within two hours after it was convened following ruckus over the Delhi riots.
With members of the opposition demanding immediate discussion over the violence in the capital that led to 47 deaths, Naidu adjourned the House as the government had already announced that debate will take place post Holi on March 11.
It was the fourth consecutive day when the House was adjourned over same issue. The opposition had made it claer on Wednesday that they would not let the House function unless the debate took place.
Naidu's "bazaar" remark came after his repeated appeals to the members to stop sloganeering in the House fell on deaf ears.
The chairman also said that it is the House of the Elders and members should not raise slogans.
The opposition members walked into the Well of the House and started sloganeering against the central government over rioting in Delhi. This happened soon after Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan issued a statement in the House over government's preparedness to contain the Coronavirus outbreak in the country.
Vardhan gave an elaborate statement wherein he gave every minute detail about the government initiative to deal with the crisis
After Vardhan's statement, the members were allowed to give their suggestions. Once suggestions were made and Zero Hour started, the opposition members started sloganeering.
The Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad thereafter walked away.
The Chairman ensured that the Zero Hour was completed.
Many members who gave notices to raise important issues refused to raise their issues. The Chairman repeatedly said that if the members did not raise the issue even after giving notice, further notices from them would not be taken.
Amid sloganeering a few members raised their issues and as soon as Zero Hour ended and Naidu appealed the members to go to their respective seats so that Question Hour could begin.
When members did not budge and demanded discussion over Delhi riots, Naidu announced that the House would remain adjourned till 11 a.m. on Friday.
For the fourth consecutive day, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned over Delhi riots issue. The Chairman earlier assured the members that the matter would be taken up but later in the month but the members wanted discussion at earliest.
( With inputs from IANS )