New Delhi, Dec 15 :The Rajya Sabha was Today adjourned till 2 pm after it witnessed uproarious scenes by protesting Opposition members as they marched to the well of the House and shouted slogans over the continued suspension of 12 members.

As soon as the House met at 12 noon, after it was adjourned for the first time by Chairman Venkaiah Naidu following vociferous Opposition protests over suspension of 12 members, the Deputy Leader of the Congress Anand Sharma rose up to say that the continued suspension of the members was against the rules.

Anand Sharma said that they had given notice for suspension of the termination of the 12 members.

Deputy Chair of the House Harivansh Narayan Singh, reading out a statement, said that the Deputy Leader of the Congress had given notice to the Chair for termination of the suspension of the 12 members under rule 256.

“On his persistent demand the Chair said he will examine the notice,” read out the Deputy Chair. However, Chairperson Venkaiah Naidu said that “the notice was not accompanied by a motion and was therefore inadmissible”.

He said a motion can be moved with the consent of the Chairman.

His statement was protested loudly by the Opposition, who shouted slogans continuously. The members held placards and tried to block the camera view of members who were speaking during Question Hour, or stood near the member and drowned out his voice with their sloganeering.

Despite the ongoing din, Deputy Chair Harivansh Narayan Singh seemed unperturbed and continued the proceedings for half an hour, after which he adjourned the House till 2 pm.

The questions related to NREGA raised by members including Vijaysai Reddy of the YSRCP, and the answers provided by Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh, were inaudible due to the cacophony.

As Opposition members moved with placards near to where members were asking questions, the Deputy Chair asked them to return to their seats.

“Go back to your seats. Members cannot to to the other side, please go to your side,” the Deputy Chair requested several times.

Even the answers provided by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari were drowned out in the incessant din. The opposition members also stood with placards around him.

The Deputy Chairman then said: “You don’t want Question Hour to continue. You are standing in the well, holding placards. This is against the rules and procedures of the House.”

He then adjourned the House till 2 pm.

The 12 members from five political parties, were suspended on November 29, the first day of the winter session, for the rest of the session, for “unruly conduct” on the last day of the monsoon session on August 11.(UNI)