Opposition leaders protest in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session in New Delhi on Monday. (PTI)
Both Houses of Parliament were stalled on Monday as the government appeared to be evading a discussion on the Delhi riots, prompting a strong protest by the Opposition, which demanded the resignation of home minister Amit Shah.
The Lok Sabha witnessed pushing and shoving between members of the Treasury and Opposition benches. Neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor Shah was present.
In the Rajya Sabha, several members had submitted notices for a discussion on the riots, but chairman Venkaiah Naidu said: “I am of the opinion that the matter… deserves to be discussed. But… our priority should be to see that normalcy is restored and then we discuss…. We should speak in one voice to bring normalcy.”
The Opposition protested. But the leader of the House, Thawar Chand Gehlot, welcomed the suggestion, indicating the government did not want a discussion now.
In the Lok Sabha, too, Opposition parties had given adjournment notices for a discussion, which was disallowed by the Speaker. The Congress and the DMK members trooped into the Well with banners and demanded Shah’s resignation.