The Rajya Sabha for the fifth consecutive day on Friday witnessed a din by the Opposition over issues including price rise and the Agnipath recruitment policy forcing adjournments. The Question Hour was conducted amidst sloganeering and agitated members displaying placards.
Irked over the uproar, Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal said the government was ready to discuss all issues including price rise but the Opposition was not willing to do so. He also said as the entire world was concerned about food security now India was comfortably placed in this regard. The Minister, who was replying to questions related to wheat purchase, said the entire world is discussing food security and India is the only country which has balance.
"Even in such conditions, our opposition is not ready for discussion. The majority of us want a discussion. Even the government wants discussion on this," said Goyal.
As the pandemonium marred Question Hour was about to end, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said the Opposition wanted a discussion under rule 267 on price rise. However, the government was not ready for it, he said. Rule 267 entails suspending business for the day to discuss the issue raised by the members. The Opposition made its intentions clear as soon as the proceedings commenced for the day at 11.00 am. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he was not allowing discussion under rule 267 on price rise and Agnipath adding he was ready for a discussion on price rise later.
The Opposition did not relent and raised slogans besides displaying placard. Asking members not to bring placards, Naidu said, "I will take a serious view. Don't do it". Naidu also rued that a week has been wasted.
As some protesting members wanted to raise a point of order, Naidu said the House is not in order. "There is no point in raising a point of order when the House is not in order," the Chairman said. Later, he adjourned the proceedings till 12 pm.
When the House reassembled at 12 pm, Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh conducted the Question Hour amid protest by the Opposition.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Kailash Choudhary, Minister for Communication Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel and Union Minister Piyush Goyal replied to the questions in the uproar.