Rajya Sabha adjourned thrice due to uproar over reported govt move on Christmas Day

New Delhi: Opposition members on Monday strongly raised the issue of religious conversions and a report that government schools have been asked to observe ‘Good Governance Day’ on Christmas Day, leading to three adjournments in Rajya Sabha during the pre-lunch session. [caption id=“attachment_1850485” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] Despite Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s statement that the report regarding observance of Good Governance Day, “is factually false”, almost entire Opposition, including Congress, JD-U, Left parties and TMC, kept raising the issue. Jaitley said HRD Minister Smriti Irani “has informed me that no such instruction has been issued, no school will function (that day). Only an online essay competition (is being organised). That’s all.” Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said there are reports that schools have been asked to remain open on 25 December to observe Good Governance Day. Congress Deputy Leader Anand Sharma said he has given a notice under rule 267 for suspension of business to discuss the forced conversions being carried out by RSS affiliates. “It is a very serious issue,” he said, adding coordinated effort was being made to divide and polarise the society on communal lies by an outfit which calls itself a cultural organisation. “An explosive situation is being created in the country,” he said, adding, “We don’t want their designs to succeed.” Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said a discussion on conversion is listed on 17 December and Congress can raise the issue then. Yechury said his party and others have also given notice to suspend business as “there is no further business which is important to us.” He said the forcible conversion and other incidents were part of a “package” to shred the Constitution’s secular character. Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said the notice under rule 267 can be moved only with the consent of the Chairman and the Chairman has not given any consent for it. “Suspension motion is ruled out,” he said. Unhappy with the ruling, almost the entire opposition was up on its feet with Sharma saying, “We will not allow any business until this issue is settled”. Jaitley said, “Is the Chair being threatened? This is unprecedented.” Amid uproar, the House was adjourned till noon. When the House reassembled for the Question Hour, Yechury again raised the two issues. Sharma again the raised the issue of his notice, to which Chairman Hamid Ansari said it has not been accepted. Opposition members sprang to their feet on the issue, forcing the Chair to adjourned the House for 10 minutes. When the House reassembled, Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said the Opposition was worried over the prevailing situation in the country and cautioned that there could be an atmosphere of anarchy. Naqvi said government was committed for harmony in the country. But the Opposition was not satisfied, leading to adjournment on the House till 2 pm. PTI