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Uproar in parliament on Ambedkar's statue desecration
Mayawati demands dismissal of UP Govt and CBI inquiry on Ambedkar's statue desecration, report Satyen and Anil Anand.
Slogan shouting BSP members demanding dismissal of UP government and a CBI inquiry into the desecration of Baba Saheb Ambedkar's statue disrupted the functioning of the Parliament on Friday.
The Question Hour could not be held in both the Houses.
BSP leader Mayawati's demand that Rajya Sabha suspend the Question Hour to take up the desecration issue was not acceded by Deputy chairman K Rahman Khan.
Similar situation prevailed in the Lok Sabha with BSP members led by Brijesh Pathak demanding suspension of question hour, which was rejected by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.
In Rajya Sabha, BSP members led by Mayawati trooped to the well in protest and said that unless they were heard they would not allow the House to run. The BSP members started shouting slogans demanding dismissal of UP government and that insult to Baba Saheb Amedkar will not be tolerated.
Rahman Khan adjourned the House till 11.30 pm
When House reassembled, Mayawati raising the issue again said that the accused that were responsible for the desecration had not been arrested. An innocent person had been arrested in this connection that is a scheduled caste and drunkard, she said. There is a 'big conspiracy' to divide the Dalits and a CBI inquiry should be undertaken into this matter, she added.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri said that the whole House condemns the desecration of Baba Saheb Ambedkar's statue who was architect of Indian Constitution and a "Messiah of the Dalits".
He said Ambedkar's "insult will not be tolerated" and stringent action will be taken against all those responsible.
He also placed a resolution in the House stating, "This senseless and unfortunate incident has shocked the conscience of the nation. We appeal to all sections of the society to restore peace and harmony and not to indulge in acts which may damage the social fabric and unity and integrity of our country."
The BSP Members were however not satisfied and trooped into the well again and continued to demand CBI inquiry and dismissal of the UP government.
Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat adjourned the House for ten minutes.
When the House met again the BSP members shouted slogans for sometime and then staged a walkout and then the House took up Special Mentions.
Lok Sabha witnessed repeated adjournments due to which no business could be executed during the day. Repeated requests by the Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to the agitated BSP members that they should be satisfied as he had already condemned the incident on behalf of the House, did not have any effect. The House witnessed four adjournments during the day.
Amidst counter sloganeering between the BSP and the SP Members, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee read out a statement condemning the incident. He described the development as "very serious".
