New Delhi: In the backdrop of disruptions in Rajya Sabha on various issues, its Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu today urged members to act responsibly to ensure smooth proceedings and assured them that whatever decision he takes would be to enhance the image of the House.
During a meeting with members of various parties on functioning of the House, the Triple Talaq Bill was also discussed and the chairman asked both the opposition and the treasury benches to sort out the issue between them, sources said.
Naidu asked the parties to introspect if it is appropriate to cause frequent disruptions and adjournments of the House in order to press their political agenda.
The Rajya Sabha has seen disruptions on a number of issues in the winter session including on Triple Talaq Bill and caste violence in Maharashtra.
The sources said some members have also complained to the chairman that smaller parties are deprived of their chance to raise matters of public importance in the Upper House as the main parties try to push their agenda and cause disruption.
Naidu, the sources said, has waived the time limit for moving a proposed amendment by Congress leader Anand Sharma on the Triple Talaq Bill.
"Whatever decision I take will be guided by the aim to enhance the image of the House," he told the members, the sources said, adding that he urged the MPs to also follow this principle.
The business advisory committee had fixed a time limit of four hours for the debate on the Triple Talaq Bill, but members wanted more time and the chairman said he was open to the idea, the sources said.
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Bijapur (PTI): Suresh Chandrakar, the prime accused in the murder of a journalist in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, has been arrested from Hyderabad by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), police said on Monday.
The accused, a contractor by profession, was absconding since the murder of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar came to light on January 3, they said.
The SIT, constituted to conduct the probe into the murder case, rounded up Suresh Chandrakar from Hyderabad late Sunday night, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P told PTI.
The accused was brought to Bijapur on Monday morning and his interrogation was underway, the official said.
Suresh Chandrakar's brothers Ritesh Chandrakar and Dinesh Chandrakar and supervisor Mahendra Ramteke have already been arrested in the case, he said.
Mukesh Chandrakar (33), a freelance journalist, went missing on January 1. His body was found on January 3 in a septic tank on a property owned by Suresh Chandrakar at Chattanpara Basti in Bijapur town, police earlier said.
The deceased worked as a freelance journalist for the NDTV news channel and also ran a YouTube channel, 'Bastar Junction', which has some 1.59 lakh subscribers.
A news report highlighting alleged corruption in a road construction work in Bijapur, that was shown on NDTV on December 25, is being discussed as the motive behind Mukesh Chandrakar's murder.
The said construction work was linked to contractor Suresh Chandrakar.
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma had claimed that Suresh Chandrakar was a Congress leader. The opposition party, however, claimed the accused joined the ruling BJP recently.
Authorities have initiated action against the accused's illegal properties and encroachments. A construction yard built by Suresh Chandrakar after usurping forest land along the Bijapur-Gangaloor Road has been razed, local officials had said.
Police have also started the process to freeze the bank accounts of Suresh Chandrakar and other accused. So far, three accounts of Suresh Chandrakar have been put on hold.
Mukesh Chandrakar had played a crucial role in the release of CoBRA commando Rakeshwar Singh Manhas from Maoist captivity in April 2021 following the Takalguda Naxal ambush in Bijapur in which 22 security personnel were martyred.
The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) is a specialised jungle warfare unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Members of the Mahar community on Sunday took out a candle march here to condemn the journalist's murder and demanded capital punishment for the accused.
On Saturday, journalists held a protest at the Raipur Press Club, demanding strict action against the accused.