NDA MPs write to Rajya Sabha Chair on Congress disruptions

New Delhi, Aug 6: As the Rajya Sabha continued to be disrupted through the third week of the monsoon session, around 30 MPs of the ruling National Democratic Alliance on Thursday wrote to Chairman M. Hamid Ansari to take action against Congress parliamentarians disrupting the proceedings.

“Members of the Congress party are disrupting the house, continuing for over two weeks in this monsoon session. You (chairman) and the deputy chairman have time and again appealed (to) such members and have warned them that they should go back to their seats and should not disrupt (the proceedings),” the signed letter said.

The letter pointed out that the Congress MPs were disrupting the house despite the warnings.

“All members are equal and our rights as members are infringed upon by such disruptions. We want to raise many important issues of public interest on the floor of the house. But disruptions and subsequent adjournments are depriving us (of) this opportunity. The conduct of some members of the Congress is not allowing us to discharge our duty as MPs,” the letter read.

“We request you now to take action against such members disrupting the house proceedings,” it added.

The letter did not name any other opposition party.

The monsoon session, which began on July 21, has been facing continued disruptions over the alleged help extended to former IPL chief Lalit Modi by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, and over the Vyapam scam in Madhya Pradesh.

The Congress has been demanding the resignations of Sushma Swaraj, Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The government has, however, made it clear that there would be no resignations and also refused to discuss state issues in parliament.

Government sources say while back channel talks with other opposition parties appear to be on track, the Congress has refused to budge from its stand. (IANS)