Parliament: Rahul Gandhi leads Opposition walkout over no obituaries in Lok Sabha for Nagrota bravehearts

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi led the walkout by the Opposition in the Parliament, over no obituary references being made for the seven Army personnel who lost their lives in the terror attack on an Army base in Nagrota.

New Delhi, Nov 30: Both the houses of the Parliament witnessed disruption following uproar over demonetisation and the Nagrota terror attack. Rajya Sabha has been adjourned twice till now after uproar by Opposition over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in the House. As Rajya Sabha deputy chairman PJ Kurien tried to start debate over demonetisation, the Opposition demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi be present in the House for a detailed discussion. Meanwhile, in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi along with other Congress leaders staged walkout from the House.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi led the walkout by the Opposition in the Parliament, over no obituary references being made for the seven Army personnel who lost their lives in the terror attack on an Army base in Nagrota, Jammu and Kashmir. “It is the rule and tradition of the Parliament that when someone dies we pay homage to them. But this is the first time that this has not happened, which is why the Congress along with the entire opposition has walked out from the house,” Rahul told the media here after emerging from the Lok Sabha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in the Lok Sabha seemed to make no difference as the turbulence continued in the House. The opposition members denounced that Parliament is not paying homage to the martyrs. This took place even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the Lok Sabha.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati alleging that the government is not sensitive to the lives lost on border. There was also a heated argument between Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Sharad Yadav of the Janata Dal (United) in the Upper House. Jaitley told Yadav that the government was ready for discussion on both demonetisation and terror attacks.

“We have been discussing on note ban. If the opposition wants discussion on terror attacks, we are ready. You discuss the issue of note ban inside your party as there is no consensus in your party itself,” he said. The Rajya Sabha MP asked Jaitley whether Prime Minister Modi is supporting him. “You are talking about my party…is the Prime Minister with you? Is anyone listening to you?” Yadav said. The opposition members in Rajya Sabha stormed the well and raised slogans of “Tanashahi nahi chalegi” (Dictatorship won’t do).