Gujarat Lok Ayukta issue rocks Parliament, both houses adjourned

Parliament was Monday rocked for the third consecutive day on the issue of "undemocratic" appointment of Lok Ayukta in Gujarat as BJP members, with support from Left parties, created pandemonium leading to repeated adjournments.

SP members were also agitated over the incident of firing on lawyers allegedly by revenue officials in Uttar Pradesh and demanded that their adjournment notice on the issue be taken up immediately. They were opposed by BSP and some Congress members.

Both the Houses were first adjourned till noon and later till 2:00pm. The Rajya Sabha was later adjourned for the day and Lok Sabha till 4:00pm.

In the Rajya Sabha, Opposition parties closed ranks on the controversial appointment of Gujarat Lok Ayukta by Governor Kamala Beniwal, an issue being vehemently protested by BJP, which is in power in the state.

Supported by other Opposition parties, the BJP forced adjournment of the House, disallowing it to take up any substantive business for the third day running.

As BJP members rushed into the well shouting slogans like "Samvidhan ka ulanghan nahi chalega, nahi chalega (Violation of Constitution will not be tolerated)," members from Shiv Sena, JD-U, Left parties, AIADMK and TDP were on their feet in support of BJP's protest.

As soon as the Lok Sabha met for the day, BJP members rushed to the well protesting the appointment of Lok Ayukta in Gujarat.

After Speaker Meira Kumar made references in the Lok Sabha on the occasion of Teacher's Day, SP members led by Shailedra Kumar were on their feet demanding suspension of Question Hour to discuss the incident of firing on lawyers by state revenue officials in Lakhimpur Kheri district.

Members from BSP, which is in power in UP, strongly opposed their SP and Congress counterparts.

In the din, JD(U) members tried to raise certain issues related to Bihar, but they could not heard.

The Speaker adjourned the House till noon.

As the Lok Sabha met for the Zero Hour, BJP members rushed to the well protesting the appointment of Lok Ayukta in Gujarat, while SP members raised slogans against clash between lawyers and revenue officials in Lakhimpur Kheri.

Deputy Speaker Kariya Munda, who was in the Chair, allowed papers to be laid. In the din, Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanasamy introduced the National Academic Depository Bill on behalf of HRD Minister Kapil Sibal.

The BJP has been disrupting the House since August 30 accusing the Gujarat Governor of acting without the aid and advice of the state Cabinet while appointing RA Mehta as Lok Ayukta. The BJP has been demanding recall of the Governor.

As the Rajya Sabha met for the day, BJP members rushed into the well even before Chairman Hamid Ansari could settle in his seat. Ansari adjourned the House till noon.

When the Rajya Sabha reassembled, similar scenes were witnessed following which it was adjourned till 2:00pm.