The Rajya Sabha saw two adjournments in the pre-lunch session on Monday with the first one coming after smoke emanated from a microphone-cum-voting panel in front of some MPs' seats. The Opposition raising a din over the car accident carrying the Unnao rape victim in Rae Bareli district on Sunday led to the second adjournment. Her two aunts travelling in the same vehicle died when a truck collided with it head on while her lawyer was seriously injured. The woman was allegedly raped by a BJP legislator of UP.
The issue of accident was raised in the Rajya Sabha by Ramgopal Yadav(SP), who said the woman alongwith her lawyer and relatives who were witnesses in the case were proceeding to the court on Sunday when the accident took place. He also alleged that the registration number plate of the truck was smeared with grease to avoid detection adding here security cover had gone on leave.
Taking note of the matter, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu asked the Home Minister to take note as it was serious though it pertained to a particular state. However, Yadav and his party colleagues were not satisfied with the Chair's assurance and soon all other Opposition parties also joined in. Naidu then adjourned the proceedings for 15 minutes.
Earlier, the house was adjourned for 15 minutes after some MPs including KJ Alphons and Shiv Pratap Shukla complained to the Chair that smoke was emanating from the microphone panel located in front of their seat on the treasury benches.
Naidu asked them and minister Purshottam Rupala sitting next to them to shift to the benches at the back. When several other members also expressed concern, the chair adjourned the proceedings. The maintenance staff replaced the affected panel and proceedings resumed with Naidu stating that the cause leading to smoke will be looked into.