BJP MP withdraws forensic question, Opposition walks out of RS
What's the story
Opposition parties, led by the Congress, staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, December 10. The walkout was in protest against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Aditya Prasad's withdrawal of a question he had asked Home Minister Amit Shah. The question was about improving forensic capabilities in light of new criminal laws. It had been listed as a Starred Question, which requires an oral answer from ministers and allows supplementary questions.
Chairman's stance
Chairman's response to question withdrawal sparks controversy
When Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan skipped Prasad's question, Congress Chief Whip Jairam Ramesh and other opposition members asked why it was withdrawn. The chairman replied, "You know the rules. Rule 253 permits a member to withdraw any question as he likes," adding that they had "no right to raise it," when the opposition pressed. He added that he couldn't interfere with members' rights and asked opposition MPs not to disrupt the Question Hour.
Walkout details
Opposition's demand for clarification on question withdrawal
Despite Radhakrishnan's explanation, opposition MPs were not satisfied and staged a walkout from the House. They demanded clarification on why Prasad withdrew his question without any explanation. The question to the Union Home Minister was "whether the government is expanding Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) to collect evidence as mandated under the new criminal laws, if so, the details thereof."