Rajya Sabha adjourns twice on alleged diversion of SC/ST funds for Commonwealth

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice during the question hour after opposition parties led by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) disrupted proceedings ver alleged diversion of SC/ST funds by the Delhi government for Commonwealth Games.

Immediately after obituary reference, BSP members were up on their feet to raise the issue of alleged diversion of funds as was revealed in reply to an RTI query.

BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra said he has given a notice for suspension of question hour to discuss the issue. He was supported by Left parties and members of BJP who too wanted a discussion.

A recent query by a Right to Information activist showed that the Delhi government diverted Rs744 crore from Special Component Plan for SC/ST to the Commonwealth projects, thereby flouting planning commission guidelines.

Chairman Hamid Ansari asked members not to disrupt the question hour and take up the issue through a call attention notice.

"This is incorrect," Ansari said before adjourning the House for 10 minutes.

When the House reassembled, similar scenes were witnessed.

"Please give a call attention notice... please don't disrupt proceedings," Ansari said even as members continued to raise the issue.

"The chair appreciates the concern you want to raise," he said asking opposition members to give notice for a structured debate to which the government can reply. "Please give a call attention notice and it will be admitted."

The unrelenting opposition members wanted the chairman to fix a time for the debate.

Leader of the opposition Arun Jaitley said it was a very important issue and the government should take instructions from the chair on replying to the concerns. "Please fix discussion on the issue immediately," he demanded.

Ansari, however, said he can fix time only after discussion with the business advisory committee of the House. "This is question hour. I am bound by it. I cannot waive it," he said, even as repeated pleas were made for suspension of question hour.

Sitaram Yechuri of the CPI(M) said the Left parties want discussion on the issue this week itself.

Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Prithviraj Chavan said the opposition parties should give a calling attention notice and the government will reply.

This however did not pacify the agitated members who continued raising the issue, forcing Ansari to adjourn the House till 12 noon.