After a few days of normal functioning which even saw passage of Bills and short duration discussions, the Rajya Sabha on Monday witnessed uproarious scenes and adjournments over the issue of publication of Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC).

While Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party protested and demanded a discussion on the issue, Congress later in the day said the Centre should immediately convene an all-party meeting on the issue. The House witnessed three adjournments due to the continued uproar over the issue before the Chair called it a day soon after its assembled post lunch. When the House reconvened at 2 pm after the last adjournment, TMC leader Derek O’Brien stood up demanding a discussion on the notice given by him on the NRC. Brien said it is not a political issue but question of human rights, humanitarian and a national issue, “We need to look after Indian citizens. Please allow me to raise this issue sir,” Brien said.

Alleging that the Government did not consult West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the issue, the TMC leader said that a delegation of TMC MPs would soon visit Assam. SP members and some from the Congress too started raising the issue leading to a din. Sources said West Bengal CM has sought an appointment with the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the issue.

However, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he had taken the initiative earlier in the day and even called Home Minister Rajnath Singh to the House to respond on the issue, but the House was not in order. Naidu first said he had not received any notice and later said that some members had met him and expressed their desire to raise the NRC issue.