The Mohammad Afzal issue on Thursday rocked Rajya Sabha with vociferous Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena members demanding carrying out of the death sentence on the Parliament attack convict leading to adjournment of the House for the day.
As slogan-shouting BJP members pressed with their demand, Samajwadi Party members trooped into the well demanding release their member Abu Asim Azmi, detained in Mumbai in connection with a rally.
Amidst uproarious scenes, Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan adjourned the House for the day. Earlier, the House was adjourned till noon as BJP and SP members disrupted the Question Hour over the same issues.
When the House re-assembled at noon, SP members took the lead and trooped into the well demanding release of their colleague. BJP and Shiv Sena members were also on their feet shouting slogans demanding hanging of Afzal.
As the slogan-shouting continued, the Deputy Chairman pleaded with agitated members to take their seats assuring them that they would be heard. But his pleas went unheeded and the uproar continued.
In the din, papers listed against the names of Ministers were laid. Later, the House was adjourned for the day.
Earlier, Lok Sabha too was rocked by the BJP and Shiv Sena over the Afzal issue and the detention of SP member Abu Azmi.
As the din continued, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee adjoured the House for 15 minutes. When the House re-assembled, similar scenes continued, forcing the Speaker to adjourn it till 1400 hrs.
Later, Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day.
