On day two of the Budget session, Rajya Sabha witnessed repeated disruptions while Lok Sabha debated the controversies arising out of the suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula and the alleged 'anti-national' programme held at JNU. Here's the latest.
Day two of the Budget session of Parliament saw Rajya Sabha face repeated adjournments as Opposition party BSP stormed the Well of the House demanding that the BJP government come clear on the constitution of an inquiry committee into the suicide of Rohith Vemula. The House was then adjourned for the day.
In Lok Sabha, a discussion is currently underway on the controversy arising out of the suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula as well as the Jawaharlal Nehru University ‘anti-national’ row. Jyotiraditya Scindia led the charge for the Congress, while BJP’s Anurag Thakur countered him.
As it happened
7:55 pm What is say is always based on fact: Rajnath Singh
7:54 pm All those guilty in the attack on journalists and students at Patiala court will be punished: Rajnath Singh
7:53 pm Govt not interfering in the investigation into the JNU case: Rajnath Singh
7.35 pm: There still are many VCs appointed by UPA, I challenge that even if one of them says I do saffronisation I will leave politics: Smriti Irani.
7.26 pm: Have you ever seen Rahul Gandhi go to one spot twice? No, he saw a political opportunity here: Smriti Irani.
7.25 pm: JNU authorities had recommended suspension of Kanaihya Kumar, Umar Khalid and few others over Afzal event, Irani tells LS.
7.24 pm: Irani says JNU administration withdrew permission to hold event after it found it was not being held for “poetry reading”.
7.22 pm: Irani quotes alleged anti-national slogans raised inside JNU campus.
7.15 pm: Smriti Irani alleges Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao did not act after Rohith Vemula’s suicide.
7.12 pm: A visibly choked Irani says no attempt was made to take Rohith Vemula to doctor, his body was used as political tool.
7.10 pm: Mujhe suli pe chadhaya ja raha hai kyuki mere vibhaag ne patra likha? Smriti Irani in Lok Sabha.
Am I being targeted because my department wrote the letter, asks Smriti Irani.
7.05 pm: Aapki ichha Jawab sunne ki thi hi nahi, niyat mein khot thi: Smriti Irani to Congress leaders in Lok Sabha.
You don’t wish to listen to the answers, your intentions are wrong: Irani.
7.00 pm: Hanumantha Rao ji ne mujhe likha ki Congress ke karyakal meinn jis VC ka appointment hua uske karyakal mein atmhatya hui: Smriti Irani in LS.
Hanumantha Rao ji wrote to me that the VC of the university where Vemula committed suicide was appointed by the Congress: Irani.
6:26 pm “I want to ask Congress why Afzal’s body was not handed to his family. I want to ask the BJP if you are not able to prove charges against Kanhaiya, will you quit politics. Kanhaiya is innocent. How long will you both keep fighting on ideology. Dalits can never get justice by you parties because you both are anti-Dalits. Don’t impose your ideologies on Indians,” said Asaduddin Owaisi.
