Rahul Gandhi's UK remarks disrupt Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha proceedings for second consecutive day

Piyush Goyal, without naming Gandhi, alleged that he had insulted the Parliament and constitutional institutions

Parliament proceedings were washed out for the second consecutive day on Tuesday over the ruling BJP's demand for Rahul Gandhi's apology for his 'Indian democracy in danger' remarks in London and Opposition countering it with statements made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his official visits.

Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessed intense sloganeering, arguments and counter arguments on the issue as well as on the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe in the Adani Group issue, with the Chair being unable to transact any official business and forcing them to adjourn the Houses for the day.

Bonhomie was witnessed in Rajya Sabha for close to one hour as Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar led the House in congratulating the Oscar victories for RRR song 'Naatu, Naatu' and documentary 'The Elephant Whisperers' but the House sank into pandemonium soon after a number of MPs spoke, congratulating the winners.

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As soon as the official papers were laid on the table of the House and the notices to suspend notices seeking suspension of business to discuss Adani Group issue were rejected, the pandemonium started as Leader of the House Piyush Goyal once again raked up Rahul's remarks, without naming him, and sought an apology alleging that he had insulted Parliament. The Opposition were already on their feet demanding a JPC probe while Goyal sought to counter them with his intervention and sloganeering by his party colleagues.

Dhankhar he was rejecting notices of seven Congress MPs seeking to discuss the "government's failure to constitute a JPC to investigate the charges of fraud, corruption and financial mismanagement by Adani Group companies" while he did not give permission to notices by BRS' K Kesava Rao and the AAP's Sanjay Singh to discuss the Hindenburg report on Adani Enterprises and other group companies. Notices by CPI's Binoy Viswam and P Sandhosh Kumar to discuss post-poll violence in Tripura and prohibition of online gambling and regulation of online games in Tamil Nadu by DMK's P Wilson were also rejected.

"To err is human... and sometimes, it takes place. We had such a seamless session because there was recognition to us all, through great feats at (the) Oscars. I thought this will be a day where notices may not be taken up," the chairman said, adding, these issues "are the ones that can be agitated (for) by other means".

Goyal said both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha are part of the Parliament, which have been insulted and he felt that this is the first time that the entire Parliament was insulted. With some MPs of Congress and AAP in the Well of the House, Dhankhar then adjourned the House till 2 PM.

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When the House re-assembled at 2 PM, Goyal once again raised the issue while Congress Deputy Leader Pramod Tiwari said Modi's statements abroad should also be discussed. Congress' Shaktisinh Gohil said the rules does not allow raising an allegation against a Lok Sabha MP in Rajya Sabha and that he has submitted a privilege notice against Goyal for making remarks against Rahul.

Dhankhar said he had discussions with senior leaders earlier on the issue raised by Gohil and earlier by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and a meeting has been called to discuss the issue before he arrives at a final decision. However, the protest from both the sides continued, prompting Dhankhar to adjourn the House for the day.

Similar scenes were witnessed in Lok Sabha, which was first adjourned within minutes in the first half. When the House re-assembled at 2 PM, the same scenes repeated prompting the Chair to adjourn it for the day.