Protests over the new Delhi LG Bill rocked the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday after Opposition leaders stormed the well of the House demanding that the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 be sent to a select committee for scrutiny.
Amid Opposition protests, the upper house witnessed two brief, back-to-back adjournments.
The Bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday, seeks to equate the Delhi “government” with the Delhi Lt Governor. The bill also makes it mandatory for the Delhi government to take the opinion of the L-G before any executive action.
Soon after the House returned the Finance Bill, 2021, Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge opposed the GNCTD (Amendment) Bill, saying the proposed legislation was unconstitutional and demanded that it be referred to a select committee for scrutiny.
Opposing the bill, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said the BJP government at the Centre has brought the bill as the party had lost the Delhi assembly elections twice. He said that by opposing the bill he was seeking "justice" for the two crore people of Delhi.
Later, opposition members trooped into the well and started raising slogans against the government.
As the protesting members reached the well and House marshals arrived, Kharge warned that what happened in the Bihar assembly on Tuesday should not be repeated.
Kharge was referring to the chaos that erupted in the Bihar assembly on Tuesday when police was called inside to assist the marshals in evicting unruly opposition members protesting against the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy said the amendments to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act were in no way undemocratic.
The Chair called Abhishek Manu Singhvi of the Congress to speak on the bill, but he demanded that the House be first brought in order.
As the uproar and slogan shouting continued, the House was adjourned twice for 10 minutes each.
(With PTI inputs)
