SP, RJD MPs snatch papers from Rajya Sabha Chairman

New Delhi: The bill that promises to reserve 33 percent of legislative seats for women was moved in the Rajya Sabha amid unruly scenes as a dozen members opposing the legislation tore off the document into shreds, hurling them at Chairman Hamid Ansari.

A visibly agitated Chairman adjourned the house till 3 pm soon after Law Minister M Veerapa Moily moved the table for consideration and passage.

As soon as the Chairman asked the minister to move the bill, the MPs from the Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) started shouting slogans and moving towards Ansari's podium. By that time, Moily had already moved the bill.

Angry, the protesting MPs created a ruckus and snatched the bill from him and tore it off. Rolling them into balls, some of the MPs flung them all around. Some torn papers were thrown at the chairman.

Nand Kishore Yadav of the SP tried to climb up to the chairman's desk but was prevented by a marshal.

Subhash Yadav of the RJD was seen attempting to assault the parliament secretary general who was seated below the chairman's podium.

This was the third adjournment of the house Monday over the bill.

When the house reassembled at noon after an earlier adjournment, SP members raised slogans. In the event, no one could hear Deputy Chairman K Rehman.

Minister for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath read out a statement on the international Women's Day.

The protesting MPs first demanding a discussion on the reports of the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities headed by Justice (retd) Ranganath Misra that favours job quotas for Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians.

The chair ruled this out saying no notice had been served for the debate. As a handful of SP members advanced menacingly towards the presiding officer, the house was adjourned till 2 pm.

Earlier, when the house assembled at 11, Chairman Hamid Ansari read out a message on the international Women's Day saying that among others "women have to be included in the decision making process".