New Delhi, February 9 Proceedings in the Lok Sabha were adjourned until 2 pm on Monday, with opposition parties insisting that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi be allowed to speak before the House discussed the Union Budget.
When Krishna Prasad Tenneti called upon Congress' Shashi Tharoor to initiate the debate on the Budget, opposition members insisted that Gandhi be allowed to speak first.
Tenneti emphasized that the discussion was on the Budget, and Tharoor's name had been nominated by the Congress as its lead speaker.
He stated that he needed clarification on whether the Leader of the Opposition could be allowed to speak. He also asked Gandhi if he wanted to speak about the Budget.
Meanwhile, Tharoor said he would defer to the Leader of the Opposition.
As the stalemate continued, Tenneti adjourned the House until 2 pm.
Later, speaking to reporters outside the Parliament building, Tharoor said that Gandhi wanted to respond to allegations that Congress members in the Lok Sabha had intended to "carry out an unexpected act" when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to visit the Lok Sabha chamber last week to respond to the debate on a Motion of Thanks.
He said that clarification was needed from the Leader of the Opposition.
On February 5, an anguished Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that he had "concrete information" that many Congress members might move towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's seat and carry out "some unexpected act" as a result of which he had requested him not to come to the House to reply to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address.
Earlier, proceedings in the Lok Sabha were adjourned until 12 noon after Speaker Birla had condemned opposition members for "planning" disruptions.
As the House took up Question Hour, opposition members began raising issues which they demanded should be addressed immediately.
Birla said that these issues could be raised during the discussion on the Union Budget. He said that members, including the Leader of the Opposition, were free to speak during the debate.
As the opposition members continued to disrupt proceedings, Birla condemned them for the "planned" disruptions and asked them to allow the House to function according to the rules.