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The government's legislative and economic reform agenda appears to be in danger of being derailed with the logjam persisting in the Rajya Sabha for the third day.
The Opposition refused to let the house transact any business until the PM Narendra Modi himself assured the house that the fringe elements that were running amok would be contained and the threat of forcible religious conversions would not be allowed.
The crucial Insurance Amendment bill which has passed muster in the Select committee and was listed in the list of business of the upper house could not be taken up due to the repeated adjournments. Trinamool Congress Derek O 'Brien of the TMC, has in the meanwhile moved a breach of privilege motion against the Leader of the house Arun Jaitley for allegedly misleading the house regarding the celebration of Good Governance day by Navodaya Vidyalays on Christmas. CPM leader Sitaram Yechury has also submitted the JNV official circular directing several events apart from online essays to be held by schools on Christmas Day. The Oppositions has alleged that Jaitley misled the house, claiming there was no circular.
Attempts by the government and Jaitley himself to defend the government only served to infuriate the Opposition further when he accused the Opposition of only being interested in anarchy and not in discussion.
Despite the chair making repeated requests that the house should not be held to ransom, the Opposition refused to relent. The government attempted to withdraw the Anti Hijacking bill 2010 in the din, but it was not allowed by the Chair.
The Opposition refused to allow the Leader of the house Arun Jaitley to speak on the privilege notice, citing the rule book that it was now for the Chair to take a decision in the matter and he cannot defend himself.
Congress party's Anand Sharma said, "If the government is interested in having the house function, then the PM himself should come to the house."
Amidst the sloganeering and the protests the house had to be adjourned till Wednesday.
