The Rajya Sabha witnessed high drama on Wednesday with many adjournments and vociferous protest by the Opposition when the Government moved the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013.

The Bill could not be passed due to disturbance and the presiding officer’s refusal to  conduct division of votes amid din.

Incidentally, it was the first day of the ongoing session of second leg of Budget Session when the Rajya Sabha functioned for some hours though marred by bedlam and pandemonium. 

The House saw repeated  adjournments as the Government tried to get the Bill passed in the post lunch session starting 2 pm.  Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien finally adjourned the House for the day shortly after 5 pm commenting that the Rajya Sabha could not transact any business.

The Bill to amend the Prevention of Corruption Bill was earlier passed by the lok Sabha and was vetted by the Standing Committee and Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha before finally being moved by Minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday.

However, the determined Opposition did not oblige the Government in the passage of the Bill.  While it demanded a discussion, the Government said the Bill was already screened by the select committee and the proposed legislation was in national interest to tackle scourge of corruption, Kurien said.

Amid strong protest by members who came into the Well of the House raising slogans, the Chair said he was not able to take up division of votes as demanded by some MPs as din prevailed.

Sukhendu Roy (TMC), who sought division, said for this process order has to prevail in the house and it was the responsibility of the Chair to see to it.

As the logjam continued, the House was repeatedly adjourned amid sharp exchanges between the treasury and the Opposition benches.

In fact, when Kurien went for voice vote, both the sides vociferously said yes and no respectively. 

It made things all the more difficult for the Chair to get the Bill passed.  The Government said the Opposition is not willing to fight the menace of corruption by blocking the passage of this legislation.

leader of Opposition Ghulam Nbai Azad said the Government was not interested in addressing the issue of plight of Dalits in an apparent reference to recent Supreme Court judgement.

Also, he charged the Government for misleading the nation that the Opposition is not letting Parliament run and pass important Bills.  Azad said the Government was not interested in smooth conduct of proceedings by not addressing issues like formation of Cauvery Management Board, special status for Andhra Pradesh, Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam and recent leakage of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) question papers.  Azad also said it is the duty of the Opposition to raise the issues concerning the masses besides passing Bills.

Similar acrimonious scenes marred the morning session after some members, including Jaya Bachchan and others, took oath.  Samajwadi Party leader and former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was present in the visitor gallery to witness Bachchan’s oath ceremony.

Soon after the ceremony, members of AIADMK, TDP, Congress, SP, BSP and TMC stormed the Well raising slogans and showing placards.  Naidu said only two days were left for the current session to end and the House is unable to pass any Bills due to such obstructions.  He termed such protests as “murder of democracy” and then adjourned the proceedings till 2.00 pm.