In a first, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday himself joined his slogan-shouting party members in the Lok Sabha over the issue of alleged destabilisation of the Congress-JD(S) coalition Government in Karnataka by the BJP by “poaching”. The Congress, which has been protesting since Monday, later staged a walk-out. In the Rajya Sabha too, the proceedings were disrupted by the Congress on the issue.
In the Lower House, the opposition party expressed dissatisfaction with the Government’s response that resignations by MLAs in Karnataka was an “internal matter” of the Congress.
The Lok Sabha experienced a repeat ruckus, triggered by the ‘exodus’ of ruling coalition’s MLAs to the BJP’s side with allegations of purchase of MLAs flying thick and fast in the state.
With Rahul also joining the sloganeering chorus in the house, several Congress MPs entered the Well of the house. Though not raising the full-length slogan, Rahul was heard repeating the last part of it with his party colleagues. It is, perhaps, for the first time that the Congress president participated in the shouting protest in the house.
The Congress tried to raise the issue in Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour, but was disallowed by Speaker Om Birla, who said the matter was discussed in the House on Monday with a response from Deputy Leader of House Rajnath Singh. The Speaker also rejected an adjournment motion on the issue.
The Congress members, however, continued to raise slogans “Down with dictatorship” (Tanashahi Band Karo), “Stop the politics of poaching” (Shikaar ki rajneeti Band Karo Band karo).
Birla said it was not correct to bring posters in the house and shout slogans to which one of the members said “it is our right”. “No, it is not your right”, the Speaker cut him short.
“The country is watching you. This is your House. Don’t make it the house of a civic body,” Birla said. The Speaker disapproved of slogan-shouting and repeatedly asked members to go back to their seats. Birla said the house belonged to all the members and they need to maintain its high dignity.
BSP MP Danish Ali was not being able to speak as Congress MPs continued their protest. When the house came in order, the Speaker allowed the Congress leader in the house Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to have his say on the issue. He said the BJP was targeting the Karnataka Government and wanted it to stop poaching of MLAs.
Chowdhury said, “The politics of poaching should be stopped. The politics of targeting should be stopped. Today it is Karnataka and tomorrow it will be Madhya Pradesh.”
“You (the ruling party) say you have no role in (destabilising government) in Karnataka. But when an MLA comes out of Raj Bhavan, there is a car ready for him, when he is at the airport, there is an aircraft ready for him...The politics of poaching and targeting must be stopped,” said Chowdhury.
To this Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who had commented in the house on Monday too saying resignations in Karnataka were the outcome of the resignation of Rahul Gandhi, said the Karnataka issue was an internal matter of the Congress. “The Congress cannot get its House in order and is disrupting the Lower House,” Rajnath said.
Soon after this Congress MPs along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul walked out and were followed by DMK members.
BSP MP Danish Ali who accused the Government of “murdering” democracy asked as to when was the Government bringing anti-lynching law as mandated by the Supreme Court.
The Congress and the TMC along with the CPI and CPM did not allow the Upper House to run in the pre-lunch session forcing two adjournments.
The Upper House witnessed protests by members of Congress, TMC, CPI and CPIM as soon as it reconvened at two pm after lunch break. The House was finally adjourned for the day.