The absence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh or Minister of State Kiren Rijiju led to the adjournment of the Lok Sabha today when a special discussion on growing communal incidents was taken up.
The discussion was initiated by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, even as there was thin attendance in the House.
The special discussion on the need to evolve an effective mechanism to deal with incidents of communal violence in the country, had found a place in the agenda after it generated heat in Parliament following persistent demands by Congress and other opposition parties in the past few days.
As he started the debate, Kharge and his party colleagues pointed to the absence of the Home Minister and the Ministers of State concerned, saying such an important matter "should not be taken lightly" by the government. "This is not good," the Congress leader said.
Though Ministers Smriti Irani, Harsimrat Kaur and V K Singh were present, the Congress members sought the presence of the Home Minister or the Minister of State and suggested that the House be adjourned for 30 minutes to ensure their presence.
The Speaker then adjourned the House for half an hour.
Earlier today, Congress members demanded an early debate on communal violence in the country and questioned the delay in holding it, with many of them trooping into the Well.
