Calling Raj Thackeray a “mentally bankrupt person” JD(U)’s Rajiv Ranjan Singh wondered why the Central Government could do nothing to control him. He also dared the Centre to give a notice to the Maharashtra Government under Article 355 .

As a counterpoint, Shiv Sena’s Anant Geete said that there were more than 42 lakh educated unemployed youth in Maharashtra and that it was the faulty methods adopted by the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) that led to the violence since these jobs were not advertised in regional and Marathi newspapers.

CPI’s Gurudas Dasgupta said there was something “fundamentally wrong” with Maharashtra, adding that the country would split if such situations were allowed to continue. He also accused the Congress Government of playing soft on the matter since it was afraid of Marathi chauvinism.

Earlier, the morning session of the House began on a stormy note with several uproarious scenes erupting, marked by repeated adjournments. Members vied with one another to raise different issues.

Most Opposition members and even those belonging to UPA constituents like DMK and RJD were standing when the House assembled. However, BSP members Iliyas Azmi and Akbar Ahmed ‘Dumpy’ stood out when they walked into the well. Sporting pink-and-white Arabian scarves, they protested against the Jamia Nagar encounter. Speaker Somnath Chatterjee adjourned the House till noon without taking up Question Hour.

Trouble erupted again at noon. Independent member from Assam S K Bwismuthiary and two PMK members came into the well. Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee tabled his statement on the India-US nuclear deal amidst din. After this, Chatterjee asked Bwismuthiary to speak. The member, after giving a broad account of the Muslim-Bodo violence, demanded a high-level inquiry into the clashes. As he was speaking, Mohammad Salim of the CPI(M) interrupted him and started speaking along side.

... contd.