The crucial Insurance Amendment Bill could not be taken up by the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday with the Opposition unrelenting on its demand for a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the conversion row. Indications have emerged that Parliament could be adjourned sine die on December 19, two days ahead of the schedule, if the impasse continued.
The standoff took a turn for the worse on Tuesday with the Government hardening its stand and saying it was not ready to succumb to pressure. The Insurance Amendment Bill is now scheduled for Wednesday after a Short Duration Discussion on issue of conversion listed for the day. But since the Prime Minister will be out of station on Wednesday, there is no hope of an early resolution of the crisis. The Government’s entire business and several key Bills could become casualty of the impasses.
The entire last week of the RS proceedings were washed out on a similar standoff on a controversial remark by Union Minister Sadvhi Niranjan Jyoti during a rally in Delhi. Senior members like Anand Sharma, Derek O Brien, P Rajeeve, Naresh Agarwal and Sitaram Yechury among others have given notices for discussion on the rising incidents of communal violence in the country on Wednesday.
“Till the Prime Minister does not assure the House on why his words are not being honoured, we will protest. It is clear that the Government does not want the House to function,” Deputy leader of Congress Anand Sharma said as members from his party as also those from the left and the Samajwadi Party trooped into the Well.
The Opposition led by Trinamool Congress MPs also created a ruckus on the Centre’s move to observe Good Governance Day events in schools on December 25 even as HRD Ministry on Monday after an uproar in and outside the Parliament clarified that the schools will continue enjoying Christmas holiday.
Finance Minister and leader of the House Arun Jaitley lashed out at the Opposition, saying “the issue is you want anarchy and not discussion.” Jaitley stood up to speak on the proposal for celebrations in Jawahar Novadaya Vidyalayas on Christmas Day but could not because of the din.
He said that about 500 Navodaya Vidyalayas are residential schools and practice of celebrations of festivals and events are organised within the premises since 1987. The word ‘anarchy’ by Jaitley provoked the Opposition members again and the House was adjourned for the day at 2.30 pm. The pandemonium in the House, which led to six adjournments on the day, made the Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien remark that he was “sorry for the indiscipline”.
Kurien told the slogan shouting members that Parliament was not for slogan shouting but for debate. “The Government is ready for discussion. Why don’t you agree for itIJ Very unfortunate. I am so disappointed at unruly behaviour of members. You are elected to the House not to shout slogans but to debate and discuss... This is height of indiscipline... Unbecoming behaviour,” Kurien said.
Treasury benches objected to repeated disruptions with Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi saying the Government was ready for an immediate debate on the issue but the Opposition was running away from it. Outside Parliament, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Government was ready for a debate but the Opposition was running away and thus the protest is politically motivated.
The Opposition’s demand of calling the PM in the House to reply was rejected by the Government. “What they are saying is not acceptable to Government,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said outside Parliament. But justifying the Opposition’s demand, CPI(M) MP Sitaram Yechury said Modi is answerable to the House as he had admitted that he is responsible for all major policy decision of the Government.
When the House assembled for the day, Congress and SP members forced two adjournments in the pre-noon session. Barring Tamil Nadu parties, the entire Opposition raised slogans and stormed into the Well. Sitaram Yechury said the Government had on Monday stated that there was no order asking schools to remain open on Christmas Day for an essay competition on ‘Good Governance’ to mark former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birthday.
He said he had a copy of the circular issued to schools and wanted it to be tabled in the House. Soon Congress, SP, BSP, JD(U) and TMC members joined to raise statements by Ministers and ruling party MPs, which the Opposition members contended were vitiating the communal atmosphere. They trooped into the Well shouting slogans “Dharam Ka Sauda Band Karo (Stop selling religion)” and demanding a reply from the Prime Minister.
When asked the Congress’ stand on Insurance Bill, party spokesman Randeep Surjewala said that it seems that the Government is not interested as it is they who are stalling the proceedings of the House. “let the Bill be introduced first. let the business be transacted. The House is facing burning issues of conversion and only the PM is accountable since his Council of Ministers may retract from their statement within 10 minutes,” Surjewala said.