Both Houses of Parliament have been adjourned till 2 PM due to a ruckus over the reported remarks of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on changing the Constitution for reservation to a particular minority group. In the Rajya Sabha, when the House assembled for the day, treasury bench members started protesting over the issue. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju alleged that the Congress has lowered the prestige of Dr B R Ambedkar’s Constitution by talking of reservation to a particular minority group. He demanded the resignation of the Deputy Chief Minister. Leader of the House J P Nadda also accused Congress of undermining the Constitution through this move. He said, Dr BR Ambedkar was against the religion-based reservation in the country. He added that the State Congress government has already passed a four per cent reservation based on religion in public contracts. Mr. Nadda said the Deputy CM has openly stated that they would even change the Constitution to fulfil what he called a divisive agenda. Reacting to it, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said, nobody can change the Constitution drafted by Dr Ambedkar and no one can end the reservation in the country. He accused BJP of undermining the constitution. As uproar prevailed, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar adjourned the House till 2 PM.
In the Lok Sabha, when the House reassembled after adjournment at 12 Noon, Mr Rijiju highlighted that the issue of reservation based on religion had come in 1947 and it was rejected by then by all the prominent leaders. He said Congress should remove its leader from the Constitutional post for his comments. Amid pandemonium, the Presiding Officer appealed to the protesting members for order in the House but they continued with their protest which forced the adjournment of the House till 2 PM. Earlier, when the Lower House met for the day, treasury bench members created a noisy scene over the issue. Samajwadi Party MPs entered the House with placards protesting over the incidents of crime against women in Uttar Pradesh. Speaker Om Birla objected to the displaying of placards in the House and termed it against the rule and decorum of the Lower House. He also warned them of action. But Samajwadi Party members continued with their protest. BJP Members were also on their feet over the issue of reservation to a particular minority group in Karnataka.