Question Hour in Both Houses Washed out by Ruckus on SGPC
Pandemonium over the proposed creation of a separate Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in Haryana resulted in washing out of Question Hours in both the Houses of Parliament on Thursday.
In Lok Sabha, proceedings were adjourned two times – one till 1130 hrs and other till 1200 hrs, while Rajya Sabha saw one adjournment at 1200 hrs.
Immediately after commencement of day’s proceedings, Akali Dal Members raised a din over the issue.
They wanted suspension of the Question Hour for a discussion on the matter which they said “concerned minorities”.
In support of their demand, BJP members stood on their feet, as well. Akali members were later backed by the JDU and the CPM. Basudeb Achari of CPM asked government to make a reply on the issue.
Pumped up Akali Dal Members led by Rattan Singh Ajnala rushed to the well of the House to protest and press for their demand.
In spite Speaker Meira Kumar’s reasoning with them that there exists no provision of suspension of the Question Hour, they carried on with the protest.
The Akalis said that the proposal to form a separate SGPC in Haryana by the Congress Government there was in contravention of the Sikh tradition.
“How could there be two separate religious bodies for the Sikh community, when there is already one in Punjab?” they argued
Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee rose angrily and shouted back at the Opposition, but could not be heard due to the din. With no one to heed, he sat down with his face red in anger. When after repeated requests by the Speaker, Members failed to heed her request to “let the House function” and “raise the issue during Zero Hour”, Kumar adjourned the House till 1130 hrs.
Noisy scenes were also witnessed in the Rajya Sabha over the issue.
As soon as the House began proceedings in the Question Hour, after oath of affirmation to nine Members, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House S S Ahluwalia demanded a discussion or a clarification on the reported proposal to form a separate SGPC for Haryana by the Congress Government there.
All the BJP Members in the House also stood up to demand a clarification from the Government on the issue.
Chairman Hamid Ansari’s pleas to the Members to allow the Question Hour to proceed and take up the matter during Zero Hour fell on deaf ears as the Members persisted with their demand, raising slogans like SGPC todna nahi chalega (bifurcation of the SGPC will not be tolerated).
Amid the din, the Chair adjourned the House till 1200 hrs.
