Ruckus continues in Parliament as Opposition protests over Sanjay Raut arrest, Congress MPs' suspension

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha proceedings on Monday were adjourned for about an hour after protests over arrest of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and other issues.

Even as officials papers were being laid, Shiv Sena MPs were up on their feet protesting against the arrest of Raut.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the matter has nothing to do with the House and asked them to go back to their seats.

Other opposition MPs also joined in raising issues such as price rise.

The Shiv Sena as well as TMC MPs then moved into the well of the House.

"Go back to your seats. You cannot use the House to settle the scores outside," Naidu said before adjourning the proceedings till 12 noon.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Raut in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the redevelopment of a Mumbai 'chawl' after conducting a nine-hour search at his residence.

The Lok Sabha was on Monday adjourned till 12 noon after a few minutes of business following protests by opposition leaders demanding withdrawal of suspension of four Congress MPs.

As the House met at 11 am after the weekend break, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla congratulated Indian sportspersons who have brought laurels to the country in the ongoing Commonwealth Games.

While Mirabai Chanu, Jeremy Lalrinnunga and Achinta Sheuli have bagged gold, Bindyarani Devi and Sanket Sargar got silver and Gururaja Poojary got bronze, he noted.

Birla congratulated the medal winners and all players participating in the sporting event and said they are the inspiration for the youth of the country.

When he took up questions related to different ministries, Congress members started protests demanding the withdrawal of suspension of four of their colleagues.

Initially, they protested standing at the aisles but later came to the well of the House.

The speaker appealed to them to go back to their seats and allow the House to run.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal accused the opposition of disrupting the proceedings and not allowing the House to function by their protests.

Birla said such protests were not good as it was lowering the dignity of the House.

The opposition did not heed to the appeals following which the speaker adjourned the House till 12 noon.

Four Congress MPs -- Manickam Tagore, Ramya Haridas, TN Prathapan and S Jothimani -- were suspended last Monday for the rest of the session for protests and carrying placards inside the House.

Lok Sabha proceedings have been disrupted mostly due to the opposition protests, seeking a discussion on price rise and GST rate hike on some food items, even since the Monsoon Session began on July 18.