Rajya Sabha has been witnessing protests and adjournments for 2 days over Assam NRC list.
An angry opposition today forced adjournment of the Rajya Sabha twice, scuttling all business and home minister Rajnath Singh's response on the issue they were protesting about -- the Assam citizens' list that has left out 40 lakh people.
In the morning, Rajya Sabha was adjourned 17 minutes after the session started, driven by opposition protests over the Assam citizens' list. When it reconvened at noon, the protests started up again.
Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu had given an earful to the lawmakers in the morning over their disorderly conduct. But in the afternoon, when Trinamool Congress members rushed to the well of the House, shouting slogans, Mr Naidu, exasperated, adjourned the house for the rest of the day.
The home minister, who was present in the house, could not even begin his address.
Earlier today, Congress' Anand Sharma condemned yesterday's statement by BJP chief Amit Shah, who called former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi "coward". Such statements were unparliamentary, Mtr Sharma said, setting off protests by the BJP members.
Calling for order, Venkaiah Naidu said, "This is the upper house. Unless there is cooperation by all members, it is not possible (to run the house). So when it is not possible, I adjourn the house."
Minutes later, in a re-run of yesterday, chaos broke out as Amit Shah rose again to speak. The chairman adjourned the house till noon.
Mr Naidu had also cited yesterday's protests, which forced him to adjourn the house without any of its business conducted. Six bills were listed for discussion today.
This is the third straight day of disruption in parliament over the Assam draft citizens' bill, which has triggered a political storm. The opposition -- which has accused the government of targetting Muslims in Assam under the pretext of identifying illegal migrants from Bangladesh -- is keeping up the pressure.
Yesterday, Amit Shah reiterated that list is only a draft and there will be ample opportunities for the people to prove their citizenship, which will be verified through a process laid down by the Supreme Court.