For third day, parliament disrupted over FDI in retail

Proceedings in both houses of parliament were adjourned Monday as the opposition continued to protest for the third successive day the government's decision to allow foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail and introduce a cap on the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders.

The Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, which met at 12 noon after question hour was disrupted in the morning, witnessed noisy scenes as opposition parties raised slogans against the two key economic decisions of the government, taken two months ago.

As the opposition ruckus continued in both houses, the respective presiding officers ordered adjournment for the day, even though little business had been transacted.

Earlier in the day, soon after proceedings began in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, opposition members were on their feet raising slogans. For the third successive day of the winter session, the critical question hour was lost.

The opposition stalled proceedings, pressing for a vote in both houses on the issue of foreign investment in retail; in the Lok Sabha, the protests were also against the recently introduced cap on the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders that each household is allowed.

The protests led to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari adjourning the respective houses briefly till 12 noon.

As the Lok Sabha resumed functioning, Trinamool Congress members rushed to the speaker's podium to noisily voice protests, forcing the house to be adjourned soon after it began.

Samajwadi Party members, meanwhile, trooped near the Rajya Sabha chairman's podium raising slogans against reservation in promotions.