Rajya Sabha Chairman intervenes: Amit Shah set to return to Parliament

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan has backed the Opposition's demand that Union Home Minister Amit Shah respond in Parliament over the police action against students who protested at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. He directed Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to convey the Opposition's demand to Amit Shah.

Amit Shah has been absent from the Rajya Sabha since the Monsoon Session began on July 20. The move through the Chairman is being seen as an attempt by the government to avoid the impression that it had yielded to Opposition pressure.

Shah is expected to attend the Rajya Sabha on August 12 for the discussion on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill (FCRA Amendment Bill). The Bill is likely to be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). Meanwhile, the government appears to have dropped its plan to convene a special session of Parliament to pass the Women's Reservation Bill.

At the same time, the Lok Sabha witnessed disruptions for the 14th consecutive day, with the Question Hour being affected by Opposition protests. The Taxation Bill was passed in just four minutes without any discussion.

Rajya Sabha chairman's surprise intervention

• After the Rajya Sabha was adjourned at 11 am amid protests, Opposition leaders met C.P. Radhakrishnan in his chamber and expressed their dissatisfaction over Amit Shah's continued absence from the House.
• When the House reassembled at 12 noon, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said the issue affected 140 crore people and urged the Chairman to direct the Home Minister to make a statement in the House.
• Kharge also recalled late BJP leader Arun Jaitley's remarks that protests and disruptions in Parliament are part of parliamentary democracy. It was after this that the Chairman made his unexpected intervention.