Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned till 2 pm on 4th March 2013 as the opposition disrupted proceedings, demanding a rollback of the hike in petrol prices.
Members of Left parties, Trinamool and AIADMK trooped into the Well of the Lok Sabha, while BJP members raised slogans from their seats against the hike.
In the Rajya Sabha, members were seen protesting from the aisles.
As soon as Speaker Meira Kumar made the obituary references, Basudeb Acharia (CPI-M) was on his feet demanding that Question Hour be suspended and the House take up discussion on the petrol price hike.
“I have given notice for suspension of Question Hour,” he said as the Speaker called for the Question Hour.
Petrol prices went up by Rs.1.40 a litre, excluding taxes, from March 1.
As Asaduddin Owaisi (MIM) put a supplementary question to Defence Minister A.K. Antony on the controversial VVIP helicopter deal, Left, Trinamool Congress and AIADMK members trooped into the Well raising slogans against the hike.
The noise grew louder as Mr. Antony replied to the question on the chopper deal.
As the din continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till 2 pm. Rajya Sabha witnessed two adjournments in the pre-noon session with opposition parties seeking a roll back.
When the House met for the day, Derek O’Brien (TMC) raised the issue of petrol prices being raised a day after the Union Budget was presented.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla said the government was ready for a discussion on the issue but this did not pacify members who demanded the hike be rolled back.
At this point, Mr. Ansari adjourned the House for 10 minutes.
When the House reassembled, similar scenes were witnessed as SP members started moving into aisles raising slogans demanding a rollback. Mr. Ansari then adjourned the House till 2 pm.
