Trinamool MP rakes up chopper deal, told to leave RS

Trinamool member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, who raised the issue and persisted with the matter despite rejection of his notice for adjournment, was asked by Chairman Hamid Ansari to withdraw from the House for the day. His party colleagues then staged a walkout to protest against the Chair’s decision. 

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Roy wanted to know who had taken bribe in the Rs 3,600 crore deal to buy 12 VVIP helicopters. 

“Defence Minister has to give a statement. Why is the government silent,” he asked. “Who is this AP (named as alleged bribe taker in the deal)? Who is Gandhi? Who is Shashikant?” 

Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said there is no rule for suspension of business during Zero Hour and disallowed his notice. Roy again raised the issue during Question Hour, demanding that government come out with a statement on who were the bribe-takers in the chopper deal. Angry over this, Ansari invoked Rule 255, under which a member is asked to withdraw from the House for the entire day.

Opposition Congress on Monday forced three adjournments in Rajya Sabha in the pre-noon session, demanding a response from PM Narendra Modi on CAG pointing to anomalies in Gujarat’s KG Basin gas project. 

Congress sought a discussion on the latest report of CAG listing irregularities in Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation’s KG basin gas project. 

While the government said CAG reports are examined by Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of state Assemblies and there was no convention to discuss those in Parliament, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said their notice seeking a discussion was under examination of the Chairman. This did not satisfy Congress members who rushed into the Well of the House raising slogans demanding an answer from Modi.