Lok Sabha on Monday witnessed three adjournments before final adjournment, while Rajya Sabha too was adjourned for the day due to Sunday’s development in Kolkata where the CBI tried to interrogate Kolkata Police chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sat on a dharna protesting the move.
Soon after the House met at 2 PM, members of Trinamool Congress trooped into to the well and started raising slogans like “Chowkidar chor hai” and “CBI tota hai” (CBI is a parrot)”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narendra Singh Tomar made a plea to agitating members to go back to their seats, stating it was time for motion of thanks on the President’s address.
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the CBI matter is already in the Supreme Court and let the apex court decide.
The House was adjourned for the second time till 2 PM after the Zero Hour went on for around 25 minutes.
Members of the Trinamool Congress, who alleged that the Centre was misusing the CBI to politically capture West Bengal, trooped into the Well during the Zero Hour. Members from other parties, including the TDP, SP and Congress, were also in the Well. Soon after the papers were laid, the Speaker allowed Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy to speak about the incident in Kolkata involving the CBI and the Kolkata Police.
BJD leader B Mahtab, Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and those from the Left, SP, NCP and RJD also spoke against the Centre during the Zero Hour. Saumitra Khan, who won on Trinamool Congress ticket and recently joined the BJP, also spoke from Treasury benches.
Saugata Ray, MP Lok Sabha speaking on the Issue in the House said, ‘Satyagraha by West Bengal CM is against the misuse of CBI by central govt. We strongly protest against the CBI and BJP leadership led by PM Modi & Amit Shah who have damaged the constitutional structure. The PM should answer in the House’.Saugata Ray, MP Lok Sabha speaking on the Issue in the House said, ‘Satyagraha by West Bengal CM is against the misuse of CBI by central govt. We strongly protest against the CBI and BJP leadership led by PM Modi & Amit Shah who have damaged the constitutional structure. The PM should answer in the House’.
When Home Minister Rajnath Singh started to speak on the issue, wherein he also said that Sunday’s incident was unfortunate, Trinamool Congress members trooped into the Well and began shouting slogans. Some of them were also seen clapping.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaking on the Issue in Lok Sabha said, ‘SC in its earlier order on the CBI investigation of Saradha chit fund case had said that CBI in its investigation till now had found involvement of many political & influential persons’. The Minister added, ‘West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi has summoned Chief Secretary and Director General of Police and has asked them to take immediate action to resolve the situation’.
Mahajan continued with the Zero Hour for less than ten minutes and as the protests continued, the proceedings were adjourned till 2 PM.
Amid the din, the Speaker asked the protesting members to go back to their seats but they did not relent.
Earlier, the House was adjourned till noon following protests by Trinamool Congress members over alleged “misuse” of the CBI by the central government.
In an unprecedented development Sunday evening, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee started a dharna, protesting CBI’s attempt to quiz Kolkata Police chief Rajeev Kumar in connection with chit fund scams.
A CBI team, which went to Kumar’s residence in the city’s Loudon Street area, was denied permission, bundled into police jeeps and whisked to a police station on Sunday.
The CBI wants to quiz Kumar, who led a Special Investigation Team of West Bengal Police probing the scams, regarding missing documents and files.
Some Congress members were seen displaying placards about an alleged scam in the Rafale deal.
Several political leaders, including Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and RJD national president Lalu Prasad, came out in support of Banerjee. Opposition backs Mamata Banerjee’s Dharna as Police clashes with CBI, Centre moves Top Court
After the adjournment of the House, Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee and Idris Ali were seen chatting with BJP members.
– With Inputs from Agencies