Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha Adjourned Amid Uproar Over 'Congress Links To George Soros': Top Updates

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessed accusations of links between the BJP and an industrialist, and between Congress and George Soros, leading to adjournments and protests.

Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha were adjourned amid accusations and protests by BJP and Congress.

Source : PTI

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessed another stormy session on Thursday as both the Houses were rocked with allegations and allegations between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress. 

While the Congress alleged links between a prominent industrialist and the BJP, the saffron party hit back questioning the grand old party over the connection between Rahul Gandhi and US businessman George Soros. 

Amid the commotion, both the Houses were adjourned till 2 pm. 

• In Lok Sabha, while the House sat for the entire duration of Question Hour in the first in the past few days, trouble began in the Question Hour and the House was adjourned till 1 pm. 
• Noisy exchanges continued between members of BJP and Congress as the House resumed 1 compelling Sandhya Ray who was presiding over the House to adjourn it till 2 pm. 
• Earlier, Congress member Jothimani made a reference to the alleged links between a prominent industrialist of the country and the BJP. Protests were triggered when presiding officer Jagdambika Pal said the businessman's name would not go on records. 
• Congress member KC Venugopal expressing objection sought to know whether the rule was selectively applicable to references made by opposition party members. He claimed Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal made references in the Lok Sabha which were not expunged by the Chair.
• Later, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raised the issue of alleged links between Congress leaders and George Soros-backed outfits. He alleged that the two sides were working on an agenda to destabilise India triggering protests from Congress members who trooped to the Well of the House. 
• Similar scenes were witnessed in Rajya Sabha too, where Leader of Opposition Mallikarjuna Kharge sought to counter remarks made by the BJP over Soros. 
• The proceedings of the House began with, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar rejecting six notices demanding to adjourn the scheduled business of the day and take up matters mentioned therein including derogatory statements by Allahabad High Court judge. 
• After the rejection of the six notices, Nadda condemned Kharge for criticising Chairman Dhakhar by holding a press conference on Wednesday outside the House.
• The BJP leader said questioning or criticising the ruling of the Chairman is contempt of both the House and Chair.
• Nadda refuted the claim made by Kharge in the press conference that he was not given an opportunity to speak in the House saying letters were written by the Chair to the LoP time and again to participate and come to the Chairman's chamber. But Kharge did letters were written by the Chair to the LoP time and again to participate and come to the Chairman's chamber, he added. 
• Nadda further added that the press conference was done to divert attention from the main issue and asked Congress: "What is the relationship between George Soros and Sonia Gandhi? The country wants to know. Soros gives billions of dollars in investment to destabilise the country." 
• The remark fueled the protest in the House where Sonia Gandhi was also present. 
• The Chairman gave the floor to Kharge to respond but he could not speak as treasury benches members began sloganeering. 

• Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose submitted a privilege motion notice against Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju for making a derogatory remark against opposition leaders in Rajya Sabha. The notice was signed by 60 MPs from opposition parties. 

• "Yesterday in the house, addressing the opposition, Mr. Rijiju said you all are not worthy of being in this house... The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Kiren Rijiju, instead of doing his best to run Parliament smoothly, has chosen to repeatedly insult the opposition," Ghose said.