Rajya Sabha failed to transact any business for the second day today as Congress members created uproar over the National Herald case, alleging "political vendetta" by the government which hit back by saying the opposition party was trying to "threaten" the courts.
As Congress members kept shouting slogans in the Well of the House alleging "murder of democracy" and got support from Trinamool Congress, the ruling side maintained that the Herald issue was a legal case pertaining to some "individuals" and the opposition party was disrupting Parliament just to block progress of the nation.
The House was repeatedly adjourned before the final adjournment at around 3.25 pm as ruckus prevailed, with the ruling and the opposition sides clashing and levelling allegations against each other.
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad accused the government of targetting opposition parties, including the Congress, by opening cases against them.
Referring to the matter pertaining to National Herald, Azad said a notice had been sent by Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the trustees of the "non-profit making" body.
"The ED, however, later saw reason" and its Director decided to close the matter in August this year, he said.
But soon after, the government replaced the ED Director, Azad said and alleged that the case was then again opened on the directions of the government and Subramanian Swamy.
Asserting that Congress has full faith in judiciary, he said it was the government's actions of opening cases against opposition leaders which had forced them to raise voice in the temple of democracy when democracy itself was being "murdered and slaughtered".
Azad alleged that a case of money-laundering was made out in certain "revelations" linked with Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and there were also other allegations like Vyapam, but the government was interested in targeting Congress and other opposition parties.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi rejected the allegations, saying the National Herald issue is a legal matter and Congress "should fight it out in court" instead of raking it up in Parliament.
Hitting back at Congress, Naqvi asked the opposition party "not to threaten the courts through the Parliament".
He said the opposition party was trying to "scare" the country by disrupting the House as it apprehended that the court verdict may go against its "Yuvraj" (Rahul Gandhi), who, along with Sonia Gandhi, has been summoned by a Delhi court.
Contending that it is not a national issue but one which pertains to "two individuals", Naqvi said the Congress was "hijacking" Parliament by raking up the matter.
He said the government is ready for discussion on allegations of political vendetta but not on National Herald matter, which is in court.
