New Delhi: Following the ruckus over Union minister Anurag Thakur’s comments on the Nehru-Gandhi family, the parliamentary session in the Lok Sabha was adjourned four times on September 18.
Thakur was speaking about the PM-CARES Fund while introducing the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020, when the opposition raised concerns over its transparency.
In response, Thakur said that the Congress had misused the PM Relief Fund.
When Congress members protested, Thakur said that names of Nehru and Gandhi family should be taken and alleged that the Gandhi family ruined the country.
“From the high court to the Supreme Court, every court has validated the PM-CARES fund. Little children have contributed to it from their piggy banks. Nehru set up a fund that has not been registered to date. You (Congress) only made a trust for the benefit of the Gandhi family. You made Sonia Gandhi its chairman. It should be investigated,” said Thakur.
Also read: Would Narendra Modi Please Care to Answer Some Questions About PM-CARES?
His comment sparked protest from the Congress. “Who is this boy from Himachal? “How did Nehru come into this debate? Did we take Narendra Modi’s name? This two-bit chhokra (boy)…,” Congress leader Chowdhury responded referring to Thakur.
Chowdhury said that Chinese companies have donated to PM-CARES Fund and that should also be looked into.
Demanding an apology from Thakur, the Congress staged a walkout. Amid the din, BJP member from West Bengal, Locket Chatterjee made some remarks that were opposed by Trinamool Congress members.
The opposition also accused Speaker Om Birla of shielding ruling Bharatiya Janata Party MPs.
“If anyone plays with safety then they will be named and thrown out of the house,” Birla said to opposition members while requesting them to put on their masks.
Also read: PM-CARES Fund ‘Not a Public Authority’, Doesn’t Fall Under RTI Act: PMO
“If anyone gets up to talk… I will take action… I will name them and remove them from the House,” Birla said, adding that it would be applicable for all members and ministers.
“If you want, then throw us out. We will not let this go on. We will not allow this,” said the Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee.
The Speaker first adjourned the proceedings for 30 minutes till 4.20 pm.
After the House reconvened, Sitharaman introduced the bill and then the House took up discussion on supplementary demands.
Congress members led by Gaurav Gogoi demanded an apology from Thakur for his remarks against the Gandhis.
When Rama Devi, who was presiding the proceedings, asked Chowdhury speak on supplementary demands for excess grants, he said first the House has to be brought in order and then he attacked Thakur for his remarks.
Then, Rama Devi asked BJP member Jayant Sinha to speak on supplementary demands.
As he was speaking, Congress members raised slogans, ‘Anurag Thakur maafi maango‘ and ‘Speaker saheb sadan main aaiye‘.
Also read: Anurag Thakur’s Incendiary Speech Is Part of the Sangh Parivar’s Smoke and Mirrors Show
Rama Devi then adjourned the House for 30 minutes till 5 pm.
Later, the proceedings were adjourned twice for 30 minutes each till 6 pm.
As soon as the House assembled at 5.30 pm, Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the chair, requested the protesting members to sit in their places for their own safety as well as for the safety of others in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Agrawal also sought cooperation from them and made a plea to them to allow the House to function.
(With PTI inputs)