Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today warned of ‘harsh steps’ if opposition members did not stop protesting and disrupting others who were speaking.
"It is not proper to come in front of a member and disturb them and it is happening here," Mahajan told the House as opposition members raised slogans near her podium.
"I would like members to keep this in mind so that we do not have to take any harsh steps. Any member speaking is an elected member and has the right to speak," Mahajan added.
The Lok Sabha saw protests again over demonetisation as opposition members raised slogans demanding a debate with voting over the issue and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence in the House.
The opposition members were on their feet as soon as the House met and massed near the Speaker shouting slogans. In the din, Mahajan carried out the Question Hour for around half hour, repeatedly warning the protesting members. But the ruckus only got noisier and the House was adjourned till noon.
When it met again, the Speaker warned protesting members over disturbing others who were speaking.
Mahajan then continued the Zero Hour amid sloganeering before adjourning it till 2 pm.
Her observations came a day after TRS member AP Jithender Reddy was called by the Chair on Monday to initiate the debate on demonetisation under Rule 193 which does not entail voting, but faced continued disruption by TMC members.
Yesterday, when Reddy had started reading out his written speech, Opposition members, particularly those from the TMC, came near his seat and indulged in vociferous slogan-shouting, apparently to drown his voice in the din. Large number of Congress and other Opposition parties were also seen raising slogans from the aisles or inside the Well.
