The Dalit killings in Punjab rocked the Rajya Sabha proceedings on Monday, with the opposition parties demanding dismissal of the Punjab government.
When the House re-assembled at 3pm after five adjournments, Congress and BSP members trooped into the well, demanding dismissal of the Punjab government, following which the House was adjourned for the day.
It was fifth day when the House could not transact any legislative business. Last week, it was the National Herald issue that disrupted the proceedings.
Treasury benches wanted a discussion and the passage of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, 2015, stressing that the passage of the Bill is the only way the House could do justice with the issue.
Leader of Opposition in the Upper House Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Congress was keen to pass the Bill, but it could not happen in the din, and there must be order in the House. He assured the members that the bill would be passed in the current session only.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, however, said: "If the opposition is so keen to cooperate, why not to pass the bill today."
More From This Section
Deputy Chairman Prof. P.J. Kurien urged the agitating members to cooperate in passing the bill, adding it was the same Dalit issue for which they were agitating.
Earlier, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thavarchand Gahlot moved the bill, and urged the Chair to pass it without discussion in view of its importance.
In the morning, when the House met for the day, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made a statement on her recent visit to Islamabad for 'Heart of Asia' conference amid furore by the opposition parties over the Dalit killings.