Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till 2 pm amid uproar

New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday amid uproar as Leader of Opposition Mallikarjuna Kharge sought to counter remarks made by the BJP on the Congress’ alleged links with US hedge fund tycoon George Soros.

After laying of listed papers and reports during the pre-noon session, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar rejected six notices demanding to adjourn the scheduled business of the day and take up matters mentioned therein.

Dhankhar said earlier he had given a ruling rejecting five notices and the sixth notice given by Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury regarding alleged derogatory statements by Allahabad High Court judge is also rejected.

After all six notices were rejected, Leader of House J P Nadda rose to speak and strongly condemned Congress president Kharge for criticising the Chairman by holding a press conference on Wednesday outside the House.

Citing a rule, Nadda said questioning or criticising the ruling of the Chairman is contempt of both the House and Chair.

“In a press conference yesterday, Khargeji criticised the Chairman. This is objectionable and condemnable. It sets a wrong precedent. This need to be condemned by one and all,” he said.

Refuting Kharge’s allegation made in the press conference that he was not given an opportunity to speak in the House, Nadda said letters were written by the Chair to the LoP time and again to participate and come to the Chairman’s chamber.

But the LoP did not visit the Chairman’s chamber and also did not attended the last meeting of Business Advisory Committee, he said.

The Congress party has even tried to demean the Constitutional post by criticising “the chair as cheer leaders” on its official twitter handle, he said.

Nadda claimed that a senior Congress leader, an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi, was seen making video of the mimicry of the Chairman in the recent past and said: “Congress has no interest in democracy and no respect for Parliamentary practices.”

The press conference was held to divert attention from the main issue, he said and asked Congress:”What is the relationship between George Soros and Sonia Gandhi? The country wants to know. Soros gives billions of dollars investment to destablise the country.”

This triggered further uproar in the House. Sonia Gandhi was in the House.

Chairman Dhankhar gave floor to Kharge to respond to Nadda’s remark, but he could not speak much as members of the treasury benches were on their feet and began sloganeering.

“They want to divert the attention from the main issue”, Kharge said amid intense sloganeering from treasury benches.

He urged the Chair to bring the House in order, but the Chair adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm.