For third day in a row, the Rajya Sabha remained paralysed over the Opposition’s insistence on holding an immediate short duration debate on violence in Gaza strip. The Government agreed for a discussion on Monday, but the Opposition stalled the proceedings seeking to hold the debate on Friday itself.
Soon after the House mourned the death of 298 passengers in a Malaysian airline crash in Ukraine, Opposition members led by CPI(M) member Sitaram Yechury said a similar reference on the killing of innocent people in Gaza should have come from the Chair.
“United Nations has done it. We are a member of UN,” he said, adding that according to the UN, 75 per cent of those killed are civilians. Forty six per cent of those killed are women and children and 12 per cent are below five years of age. On humanitarian grounds, a reference must be made from the Chair, he pleaded.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prakash Javadekar said while the issue of a reference on the killings in Gaza was a matter between Yechury and the Chair, the Government is ready for discussion on Gaza on Monday. “We are ready for discussion on Monday at 12.00 noon ,” he said.
law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said since the Government has agreed for a discussion, the Question Hour should be allowed. This did not satisfy the Opposition benches which said the discussion could be taken up on Friday and the External Affairs Minister can reply on Monday. Congress member Pramod Tiwari asked why the Government was running away from a discussion.
“For last two days, there is no discussion...We want discussion. Discuss the Gaza issue,” was the repeated refrain of Congress members in the House. They were supported by those from Samajwadi Party, CPI-M, CPI and Trinamool Congress.
In the din, the Government laid CAG reports and the budget for the national capital of Delhi for 2014-15. Minister of State for Personnel Jitender Singh made a statement on the issue of Civil Services Exams conducted by the UPSC.
Unimpressed by the criticism, Congress members kept shouting slogans in the well of the House. In the din, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked members to lay their Zero Hour mentions.
Citing the unanimous resolution passed by Parliament condemning US attack on Iraq during Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government, Yechury said India has strategic relations with United States and yet the issue was discussed and a resolution passed. “Our opinion should be recorded. Please do not delay it further. Allow discussion now and let the Minister reply on Monday,” Yechury reiterated.