Opposition MPs write to RS chairman about 'sloganeering' by visitors, demand action
New Delhi (PTI): Rajya Sabha members Mausam Noor and Priyanka Chaturvedi have written to Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, complaining about "sloganeering" from the visitors' gallery of the House on September 21 and requesting him to take action in the matter.
In their letters to the chairman, Trinamool Congress (TMC) member Noor and Shiv Sena (UBT) member Chaturvedi expressed dismay that there was "political sloganeering" in the House despite the Rajya Sabha's stringent security measures and diligence of marshals. The fact that more than 50 visitors were able to raise slogans is a matter of grave concern, they said.
The incident took place in the afternoon of September 21 as the Rajya Sabha debated the women's reservation bill. Opposition MPs had walked out of the House for 10 minutes in protest.
The MPs, in their letters, said it is imperative that the incident is thoroughly investigated to ascertain how such a breach of security and decorum was possible within the confines of the Rajya Sabha.
Those responsible for the disruption must be held accountable for their actions, they added.
According to sources, other opposition parties are also likely to write to the chairman regarding the matter. An opposition leader said the incident took place when the House was debating the women's reservation bill and the visitors -- all women who had come to watch the proceedings -- raised "Modi, Modi" slogans, hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Another senior leader from one of the INDIA bloc constituents who did not wish to be named said the presiding officer should "implement rules and establish parliamentary democracy".
Opposition MPs had earlier taken a united stand against derogatory remarks made by ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ramesh Bidhuri against Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) Danish Ali. Several opposition MPs wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday, demanding that the matter be sent to the privileges committee of the House.
A special session of Parliament concluded on Thursday. The parliamentary proceedings shifted to a new building during the session that also saw a bill to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies for women getting passed. A large number of women had come to witness the proceedings as visitors as the historic bill was passed.
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UP Cong chief Ajay Rai hospitalised after fainting, stable
Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai was hospitalised here after he fell unconscious due to low sodium levels, party leaders said on Saturday.
They said he was admitted to Medanta Hospital on Friday evening and is stable.
"Ajay Rai was admitted to Medanta Hospital in Lucknow at around 6 pm on Friday after he fell unconscious as his sodium levels had dropped. He fell unconscious at his residence in Lucknow. For the entire day, he was engaged in party programmes and had also gone to the airport," Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Anshu Awasthi told PTI.
Congress in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Avinash Pande told PTI, "Now, he (Ajay Rai) is stable and I am also reaching Lucknow."
Medanta Hospital Director Dr Rakesh Kapoor told PTI that Rai collapsed at his home on Friday evening and was subsequently admitted to the hospital's emergency ward.
Medical examinations revealed that Rai was suffering from a sodium deficiency and elevated blood pressure. Doctors administered immediate treatment and he is doing significantly better now, Kapoor said.
A team of doctors is monitoring his health. Rai is conversing with others and his condition is stable, he added.
In a post on X late Friday night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Rai a speedy recovery.
Rai hails from Varanasi and had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against Modi from the parliamentary constituency. The Congress appointed him as the Uttar Pradesh unit chief in 2023.
