In a repeat of last session, the Congress on Wednesday created bedlam in the lok Sabha, this time, seeking action against Union Minister VK Singh for his dog analogy and staged a walkout as the Government reminded them that the issue was discussed at length and responded by it in Tuesday’s debate.
The Trinamool Congress and the left too staged a walkout on the issue with the left seeking action against the Minister, who was present in the House, and the TMC demanding a regret from him. The Congress MPs shouted loud slogans against Singh as the question hour was conducted in uproar and the Prime Minister looked on only to leave the house after about 40 minutes.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tried to pacify Congress MPs and sought to know why they walked out on Tuesday when Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh responded in detail to their queries.
To this, leader of Congress in the lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the Government during the debate on intolerance did not touch upon the remarks made by Singh about Dalits. He also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi what action he plans to take against Singh.
As soon as the House met for the day, Congress sought to raise the issue but Speaker said she has disallowed all notices for suspension of Question Hour. Congress members trooped into the Well and uninterruptedly shouted slogans against the Government and Singh.
later, the Congress again raised the issue after the Question Hour was over with Kharge saying, “We protest against the attitude of the Government... They (the Government) should listen.”
As the Speaker denied permission to raise the issue, Kharge along with other Congress members staged a walkout. “Please have some tolerance for the mandate of the people,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said referring to the Opposition continuing to criticise the Government and Modi.
As the Congress members walked out, Naidu urged the Speaker to ensure that comments against a particular community should not go on the record.
Singh did not make such comments about Dalits and there is no reason for the Opposition to raise the issue again and again, Naidu said adding the house should be discussing grave flood situation in Chennai to which house agreed.