Rajya Sabha proceedings adjourned till 3:30 pm

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 3:30 pm in the post-lunch session on Friday as ruling BJP members demanded an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his ''democracy in danger'' remark in the UK.

When the Upper House of Parliament reassembled at 2:30 pm after an earlier adjournment, Deputy Chairman Harivansh tried to take up private members' business on further discussion on a resolution.

However, treasury bench members created an uproar and demanded Gandhi's apology. The resolution, moved by IUML's Abdul Wahab, was regarding the need to implement the recommendations of the Sachar Committee to help Madrasas to modernise and enact a legislation to prevent atrocities against minorities.

The deputy chairman asked the members to maintain order but ruckus continued, and he adjourned the House till 3:30 pm.

In the pre-lunch session, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the House is in ''disorder from both sides'', amid sloganeering by ruling BJP and Opposition members over Gandhi's ''democracy in danger'' remark and a demand for a probe into allegations against the Adani Group.

MPs from both sides shouted slogans in support of their demand after Dhankhar rejected 14 notices under Rule 267, seeking discussion on issues being raised after setting aside the business of the day. The chairman tried to restore order but as members continued to shout slogans, he adjourned proceedings till 2.30 pm.

Dhankhar had read out the notices received under Rule 267. Congress MPs Kumar Ketkar and Syed Nasir Hussain wanted to discuss the need to constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate charges of corporate fraud, political corruption, stock market manipulation and financial mismanagement against the Adani Group. Their colleague Pramod Tiwari wanted a discussion on the government's failure to constitute the JPC to investigate the allegations made by US short-seller Hindenburg Research against the conglomerate. Congress MPs Rajneet Ranjan and Jebi Mather Hisham wanted a discussion on the government's alleged role in promoting interests of the group, including through inaction on serious charges, illegal coal mines allocation, and amending rules and regulations to allow bidding of six airports. K C Venugopal, also of the Congress, wanted to discuss the government's silence on serious charges against the conglomerate and promotion of its business interest through negotiations with foreign countries for big budget projects.

Congress' Amee Yajnik and Neeraj Dangi wanted a discussion on the government's failure to constitute a JPC and the government's role in promoting business of the Adani Group.

While IUML's Wahab wanted a discussion on the Adani issue, Sanjay Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sought a debate on allotment of coal mines to the group in violation of Supreme Court rules resulting in ''loss of lakhs of crores of rupees to the exchequer'' and alleged fraud committed through shell companies opened in Mauritius. AAP's Raghav Chaddha wanted to discuss government failure to put a strong case before the Interpol leading to withdrawal of Red Corner Notice against fugitive Muhul Choksi.

CPI (M) member Elamaram Kareem wanted a discussion on allegations made by Hindenburg against the Adani Group, while Binoy Viswam of the CPI sought the constitution of a JPC. CPI's Sandosh Kumar P demanded a discussion on government failure to constitute a JPC The chairman went on to state that there was only ''part compliance'' of the requirements to admission of notice under Rule 267.

''I can assure you that as and when there will be a notice fully compliant with the requirement of Rule 267, it will for sure receive my earnest consideration and a deliberated response,'' he said, adding, ''In this situation, I am helpless and cannot accede to the requests.'' One of the conditions for accepting a notice under Rule 267 is that the issue being raised cannot be raised in any other form.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)