No work for 16th day, MPs remain seated in Rajya Sabha despite adjournment

In an unprecedented move, members of Congress and several other opposition parties today remained seated in the Rajya Sabha for almost half-an-hour after the House was adjourned for the day, apparently unhappy over the abrupt move.

Even the treasury benches were occupied with a large number of BJP members remaining seated after Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu called it a day, as Leader of the House Arun Jaitley was seen in discussion with opposition leaders including Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad. It is for the 16th straight day that the House has been adjourned without transacting any business. Before adjourning the House for the day, a visibly upset Chairman tried to run the proceedings. He said 40 members were retiring from the House and they should be given an opportunity to share their experiences and the House could wish them well for their future.Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present in the almost full House.

However, as the AIADMK members were protesting in the Well and raising slogans, Naidu adjourned the House first for about 15 minutes and then for the day. As the House was adjourned, Azad was heard urging members not to leave the House. Almost all members remained seated. However, the Prime Minister left the House in a couple of minutes after the adjournment. Even after the Chairman left the House, Congress, BSP, SP, Left and NCP opposition party members kept sitting in the House, prompting several BJP members also to remain seated.

After about 20 minutes, when most members of treasury benches left the House, some from the opposition followed suit. However, members of the Congress, BSP and some other parties left the House only after 12 noon, that is 30 minutes after the adjournment. Members from the opposition and treasury benches were also seen interacting with each other, while also sharing some lighter moments, before all of them left the House.