The Parliament on Monday witnessed uproar and frequent adjournments over the alleged molestation and death of a 13-year-old girl in Moga, Punjab last week. The Opposition demanded a discussion and action against the owner of the bus, which is owned by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s family. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the BJP, however, strongly opposed the discussion.
leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the police has taken action against only the alleged molesters but the owners are left out as they are “hukamran” (rulers) of the State. He claimed this has evoked outrage across the country and demanded action against the bus owners.
In the lok Sabha, senior Congress leader Amarinder Singh said law and order in Punjab was “bleak” and the incident was the “culmination” of the deteriorating security situation. He also alleged that Badal’s bus company — Orbit — has been involved in other cases also.
The Treasury Benches, however, said rules did not permit it. The House then saw sharp exchanges between the SAD and Congress forcing Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the proceedings twice in the pre-lunch session.
Similar scenes were witnessed in the Upper House with a determined Opposition, led by the Congress, repeatedly demanding a discussion and raised slogans against the Punjab Government leading to adjournments during the Zero Hour.
Raising the issue, Congress leader Ambika Soni said there was total breakdown of law and order in the State. Meanwhile, the Akalis too protested vehemently and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said matters pertaining to the State were not discussed in the Rajya Sabha.
He also said the State Government had already taken action against the culprits. This led to another bout of verbal duel between the Opposition and the Treasury, with CPM leader Sitaram Yechury insisting that issues related to atrocities against women, tribals and Dalits are taken up in the House and urged Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien to allow a discussion.
Kurien, however, replied that since there was no consensus on it he was unable to do so. Yechury also asked how a sitting Minister of Punjab can say that molestation is an act of God. Associating herself with Soni, Azad and Yechury, BSP supremo Mayawati said women in Punjab were not safe and sought Central intervention as no action was taken against the culprits.
The Rajya Sabha also saw a running battle of words between BJP member Vinay Katiyar and the Deputy Chairman as the former was insisting on speaking and the Chair not allowing him. Katiyar also came into the well of the house and Naqvi escorted him back to his seat.
Katiyar rose to speak after Naresh Agrawal (Samajwadi Party) sought the Government’s stand on a recent US Congress report stating that incidents against the minorities had increased during the NDA regime due to alleged inflammatory speeches by some BJP leaders in recent months.