Rajya Sabha disrupted over Lalit Modi, Vyapam

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed an uproar over the controversy about BJP leaders' links with former IPL chief Lalit Modi and the Vyapam recruitment scam as the opposition demanded the resignation of the leaders involved.

The government said there will be no resignations, even as the opposition remained adamant that there would no discussion in the house until the concerned individuals resigned.

The opposition parties are seeking the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje over their association with Modi, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's removal over Vyapam.

On the second day of parliament's monsoon session, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) sought permission to speak on the Modi and Vyapam issues.

Leader of House Arun Jaitley said the debate should be taken up immediately.

"If the opposition wants to change the rules and discuss state issues we are ready. We will raise all state issues ranging from what is happening in Kerala and Himachal Pradesh, Assam and Goa will also be discussed," said Jaitley.

As din continued, the house was adjourned for 15 minutes.

When the house met again, BSP leader Mayawati accused Sushma Swaraj and Raje of helping Modi.

"But the center is not ready to take action against both these women…," she said.

Mayawati added: "Vyapam is not a state issue, it is a national issue."

Jaitley then raised a point of order against raising state issues. However, Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury said people have died outside Madhya Pradesh in Vyapam scam so it is not a state issue.

"The job of parliament is to make government accountable. Discussion is not a substitute to investigation. Till an investigation is ordered and concerned people step down there can't be discussion," said Yechury.

To this Jaitley questioned which provision of law has Sushma Swaraj broken that an investigation should be ordered.

"May I ask which provision of law has the external affairs minister violated that an investigation can be ordered?" said Jaitley.

With ruckus continuing, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien adjourned house till 12 noon.

The scene remained the same when the house resumed for question hour and Chairman M. Hamid Ansari adjourned the proceedings for another half-an-hour.

When the house met again, Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav said it has been a tradition that ministers should resign if there are such allegations.

"There has been a tradition… When Advaniji and I were named in hawala, we resigned… We said as long as we are not cleared we will not come to house. You will become stronger with the resignation," Yadav said.

Jaitley, however, accused the opposition of playing politics over the issue.

"There has been enough politics, start the debate… this house is not for sloganeering," the finance minister said.

Treasury benches also emphasized that there will be "no resignations".

As the logjam and din continued, Ansari adjourned the house till 2 p.m.

(IANS)