The National Democratic Alliance's agitation on price rise issue rocked Parliament on Thursday with both the Houses being adjourned for two hours, as the Opposition disrupted proceedings over the United Progressive Alliance government's failure to contain inflation.
In the Lok Sabha, trouble started during the Question Hour itself when members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies, who had formed a human chain outside the Parliament complex to protest over the issue, trooped in the House shouting slogans against the government.
The atmosphere in the House was charged as a visibly angry Speaker Somnath Chatterjee pulled up Bahujan Samaj Party member Brajesh Pathak for his behaviour, while asking a question to Fertiliser Minister Ramvilas Paswan on the availability of fertiliser in Uttar Pradesh.
Chanting slogans such as "Down with incompetent government", "Government which cannot check price spiral needs to be changed", the Opposition members stormed the well and were in no mood to listen to the Speaker.
In the Rajya Sabha, similar scenes were witnessed as BJP members walked in just five minutes before noon and started shouting slogans in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Parliament complex saw NDA members, led by L K Advani and George Fernandes, sporting banners against price rise and forming a human chain to focus on government's incompetence to tackle the situation.
Amid the din in Lok Sabha, the Speaker ordered laying of the papers listed for the day and even complimented Raghunath Jha and Jitin Prasada for their maiden performance as ministers on the floor of the House.
Chatterjee adjourned the House after strongly condemning the behaviour of the members.
"It is very, very unfair that despite giving opportunities to raise all issues, the proceedings are being deliberately interfered", he said.
In the Rajya Sabha, the BJP members started shouting slogans targeting the government and even the Prime Minister.
However, BJP president Rajnath Singh asked his agitated collegues to refrain from raising slogans against the Prime Minister.
As the din continued, Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the House till 2 pm.
