The issue of farmers' plight rocked Parliament on Wednesday as Third Front and National Democratic Alliance stalled proceedings demanding a package for the farm sector and waiver of loans, leading to adjournment of both Houses for the day.
The Lok Sabha also witnessed protests over attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra with members of the RJD, a key constituent of the ruling UPA, storming the well on the issue.
Rashtriya Janata Dal members Vijay Krishna, Sadhu Yadav and Ramkripal Yadav wanted safety and security to North Indians in Maharashtra in the wake of the agitation by the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
With the presentation of the Union Budget just two days away, Opposition vociferously raised the farmers' issue for the second consecutive day amid reports that government planned to come out with some major sops for the farm sector.
The issue of attacks on North Indians did not come up in the Upper House, where a short duration discussion on it was listed but could not be taken up.
It was trouble from the word go as both Houses assembled with members of United National Progressive Alliance, also known as Third Front, and the NDA demanding suspension of Question Hour to take up a discussion on farmers' issue.
In the Lok Sabha, NDA wanted an immediate discussion on the farmers' issue saying they had moved adjournment motion and that the discussion be taken up forthwith. They were joined by UNPA members, who stormed the well.
As noisy scenes continued, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee ordered laying of papers listed for the day and special mentions. As the members remained unrelenting, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.
Similar uproarious scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha both during Question Hour and Zero Hour with BJP-led NDA joining hands with Third Front.
The Upper House was adjourned first during the Question Hour and then for the day as the opposition vociferously raised the farmers' plight.
Shouting slogans like Kisan virodhi sarkar nahin chalegi (anti-farmer government will not be allowed) in the well, they demanded a package for the peasants.
In the din, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan took up the listed business, which included laying of papers and reports.
A statutory resolution approving imposition of President's rule in Nagaland was adopted and an important bill relating to enhancement of maternity benefits was also passed virtually without discussion.
As the slogan shouting continued, a visibly upset Khan admonished the opposition members for 'taking the House to ransom' and said this could not go on.
"The House is not meant for agitation. If you want to agitate, you can go outside," he said.
But, with the opposition members unrelenting, Khan adjourned the House for the day barely ten minutes after beginning of Zero Hour.
