The Opposition raised a din on Monday in the Rajya Sabha protesting against vacancies in statutory commissions like Minority and SC\ST and alleged it was part of a ‘well-thought strategy to weaken’ these constitutional bodies. The Government assured the agitated members that the process to appoint members to the National Minorities Commission was on but the Opposition repeatedly stormed into the well forcing four adjournments in the pre-lunch session.
The ruckus started soon after Congress member Narendra Budania said the Minorities Commission did not have a Chairman and even posts of some members were not filled after the incumbents retired. He also claimed that keeping these posts vacant seemed to be part of a ‘strategy to send a message besides systematically weakening the Commission’ adding it was a ‘threat to democracy.’ He also urged the Government to clarify the position.
Explaining the reason for delay in filling the vacancies, Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Commission was in the process of getting reconstituted following a representation from the Jain community.
He said the notified minorities include six communities including Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians and Parsis. A delegation of Jains had urged the Government to have a representative of their community in the Commission and the process was on to fill all the vacancies as soon as possible, he assured the members.
The Opposition, however, was in no mood to relent and members of SP, Congress, JD-U and BSP repeatedly stormed into the well of the house in the Zero Hour forcing two adjournments. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien tried to reason with the protesting members that the Minister had given an assurance that the vacancies will be filled soon and the House should resume business.
Ahmed Patel (Congress) said the Chairman of the Commission can be appointed and Jain community can be included when the members are appointed. Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said none of the four statutory commissions - National Commission for SCs, National Commission for STs, National Commission for BCs and National Commission for Minorities - were fully constituted. BSP supremo Mayawati also echoed similar sentiments.
Pandemonium continued when the House reassembled for the Question Hour with the Opposition members again coming into the well and raising slogans. Chairman Hamid Ansari first adjourned the house for15 minutes and then till after lunch.
Amid the din, senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu was heard saying the Government was willing for a discussion after the members give a proper not-ice and charged the Opposition with politicising the issue.