Uproar in Rajya Sabha during debate over the issue of Assam NRC. (Photo/Rajya SabhaTV)
The issue of Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC) continued to reverberate in Parliament for the third consecutive day on Wednesday as the Opposition appeared in no mood to let the government go off the hook over the controversial matter. Despite the government making it clear that there was no need to panic and those who have been excluded in the NRC draft list won't be asked to leave the country, the Opposition continues to claim that an attempt was being made to divide the nation.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh was not allowed to make a statement over the issue in Rajya Sabha as opposition MPs continued to raise slogans demanding PM's presence in the House.
BJP president Amit Shah too was not allowed to speak in the House over the issue for the second consecutive day as Opposition MPs resorted to sloganeering as soon as he stood up present his views. Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma asked Chairman Venkaiah Naidu to expunge Shah's comments wherein he said "you did not have the courage, but we have it to implement the NRC".
Naidu later had to adjourn the Upper House amid chaos. He even reprimanded members for barging in to the well of the House on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, who is leading the charge against the government over Assam NRC issue, met senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel and others inside the Parliament complex. Sources said TMC and Congress have decided to continue cornering the NDA government for the remaining part of Monsoon Session over the contentious issue. The West Bengal CM met several Opposition leaders as part of her political outreach to corner the Modi government and also create ground for a grand alliance ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Mamata met Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, AIADMK leader M Thambidurai, Kerala Congress-Mani leader Jose K Mani and suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad. She also met senior BJP leader LK Advani.
Earlier in the day, MPs of Opposition parties today staged a protest outside Parliament against Assam NRC. Armed with placards against the NRC, leaders from the TMC, SP RJD, TDP, AAP, BSP and JD(S) demanded that the government bring in changes in the NRC.
They alleged by bringing in the NRC the ruling party was trying to divide the people
"The NRC is forcing people to become refugees in their won country," TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee claimed.
"It is a divisive tactic of the BJP, " alleged AAP leader Sanjay Singh.
(With inputs from agencies)
