New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS): Continuing protests by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over coal block allocations Tuesday forced the Lok Sabha to adjourn for the day Tuesday, while the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 4 p.m. after repeated disruptions.
When the Rajya Sabha met at 2 p.m. after two adjournments, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad got up to introduce the AIIMS bill that seeks to establish similar premier medical institutes in six cities. However, the BJP drowned out all proceedings with their shouting.
P.J. Kurien, who was in the chair, tried in vain to tell the members to be quiet. He then adjourned the house till 4 p.m. The bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha.
Earlier, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day amid continuous din after it met at 12 noon after one adjournment.
The BJP members kept up their chant demanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation over the government auditor's report alleging large scale irregularities in allocating coal blocks.
Ignoring the shouting, Congress MP P.C. Chacko, who was in the chair, got passed the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Bill 2012. With this, both houses of parliament have cleared the bill, which was earlier passed by the upper house.
The AIADMK members were holding placards protesting the forthcoming visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India on Sep 21 for a Buddhist celebration. "Don't allow Rajapaksa in Buddha celebrations at Madhya Pradesh on Sep 21," the placards read.
Parliament's monsoon session is set to end on Sep 7. This session has so far seen nine successive working days lost due to the BJP's protests.