lS adjourns twice after ruckus over decision to extend session

lok Sabha was adjourned twice today as a joint Opposition took on the government for its decision to extend the lok Sabha by three days, terming the move "authoritarian".

As soon as the House met for the day, the Opposition pointed to the decision to extend the lok Sabha by three days, protesting that they were not consulted.

Raising slogans like 'tanashahi nahin chalegi' (authoritarianism will not be tolerated) and 'Modi sarkar jawab do' (Modi govt explain), members from Congress, the left and TMC rushed to the Well.

Citing rules, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge demanded the intervention of the Speaker. As per the original schedule, lok Sabha was to adjourn today. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs had yesterday decided to extend the session by three more days.

In the din, Kirit Somaiya (BJP) referred to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's remarks in the House yesterday in which he blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a decision not to procced with a food park plan in his Amethi constituency.

Though not much could be heard in the din, he said the decision not to go ahead with the project was that of the company and not the government. He said he has moved a privilege motion against Rahul for allegedly misleading the House on the food park issue.

Somaiya and some other BJP members raised slogans demanding an apology by Rahul, who was not present.

Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal was seen showing some documemnts to BJP members.

As the slogans and counter-slogans continued, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House for 15 minutes at 1115 hours when the Question Hour was underway. Her repeated pleas to members to listen to the Minister in charge of Ayush, Sripad Naik, on naturopathy went unheeded.

After the House resumed at 1130 hours, Opposition members were on their feet again seeking to know whether the House has been extended and around 20 of them trooped into the Well.

In between, two questions were taken up but as the ruckus continued, the House was again adjourned till 1200 hours.

Opposition members were heard shouting slogans like 'Modi sarkar hosh me aao' (Modi government, come to your senses).