Lok Sabha on Monday was adjourned repeatedly over violence in Mumbai during a rally on the Assam riots even as other issues such as black money, plight of Hindus in Pakistan and the demand for a white paper over the state of the economy rocked the House.
In the first half, violence in Mumbai resonated in the House with Shiv Sena and BJP members storming the well protesting the “total failure” of Maharashtra government to check it. Earlier, as the soon as the House met Haran Pathak of the BJP demanded that he be allowed to raise the issue of black money. When Speaker Meira Kumar said she would permit Rajnath Singh of the BJP and Gurudas Das Gupta to raise the issue during Zero Hour, the BJP and the Shiv Sena members rushed into the well of the House shouting “kaladhan vapas lao (bring back blackmoney)” and stop atrocities against Hindus in Pakistan. Amidst the din, the House was first adjourned till 12 noon.
As the House resumed, Shiv Sena leader Ananth Gete raised the issue of Mumbai violence during Zero Hour and condemned the incidents of “fanatic youth” attacking the police and the media and even damaging a martyrs’ memorial at Azad Maidan.
Asking as to why permission was granted by the state to the Raza Academy and Awami Vikas Party to hold the rally, Mr Gete alleged that the state was caught unawares about the large number of people converging for the meet.
“Didn’t the Intelligence Bureau know in advance that such a thing is going to happen? It is the total failure of the Maharashtra government,” he said, warning that if not checked, the Mumbai incidents had the potential to spread in other places.
As Mr Geete spoke, Shiv Sena and BJP members stormed the well demanding a statement from the Prime Minister. Shiv Sena members also waved copies of party mouthpiece Saamna, which spoke of the violence caused by “fanatic jehadis”.
The situation worsened further as Congress member Sanjay Nirupam, supported by his party colleagues, sought to defend the Maharashtra government. This made Inder Singh Namdhari, who was in the Chair, to adjourn the House till 2 pm.