New Delhi, March 23 (Bureau) Rajya Sabha was adjourned till noon for the second consecutive day on Wednesday amid opposition demands to suspend the business and discuss hike in the prices of petroleum products and other essential commodities. “Prices of all essential commodities have gone up soon after the hike in the prices of fuel,” said SP leader Ramgopal Yadav. Chairman Venkaiah Naidu did not admit the notices and wanted to proceed with Zero Hour leading to ruckus in the House.
“This is not the issue to be discussed under rule 267. This is a general issue, which can be discussed during Demands for Grants, said Venkaiah Naidu adding “Once the Chair has not admitted, that means it is not admitted.” Venkaiah further said, “There are 24 important Zero Hour submissions I have admitted. It is the right of the members… yesterday also we lost the Zero Hour. Nobody can dictate to the Chair.”
Earlier, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav, CPI MP Binoy Viswam, Congress leaders Shakti Singh Gohil, Syed Naseer Hussain and KC Venugopal had given notices to the Chairman regarding suspension of business to discuss the hike in the prices of cooking gas, petrol, diesel and kerosene and also essential commodities like pulses and edible oils. “All the names should be noted and included in the bulletin,” Naidu said for some protesting members carrying placards inside the House. This is the second day during the ongoing Budget Session that the House had to be adjourned over the fuel price hike issue. The prices of petrol and diesel was hiked by 80 paise per litre for the second straight day on Wednesday.