The Rajya Sabha has failed to transact any business for the second day today after opposition members led by the Congress created uproar over rising prices of petroleum products. The House was adjourned twice in the pre-lunch period, first around 11.20 a.m. and then a few minutes after Noon.<br />'' <br />''When the House met at 2 p.m. Deputy Chairman Harivansh urged the protesting members to allow the proceedings to continue, but the unrelenting opposition members trooped into the well and raised slogans, forcing its adjournment finally for the day.<br />''Today was the first time after almost a year that the House resumed its normal timings from 11 a.m. The House was functioning from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. during the first part of the current session due to COVID-19 restrictions.<br />''<br />''All the members were now seated in the Rajya Sabha Chamber and galleries, with the Deputy Chairman announcing that 142 seats have been made available for members in the Rajya Sabha Chamber and the remaining will be seated in the four galleries. Earlier, the members also sat in the Lok Sabha Chamber due to strict social distancing norms.<br />''<br />''The Deputy Chairman said four notices under Rule 267 for suspension of rules and taking up discussion on issue of increase in prices of petrol and diesel in the country have been received from Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, Satish Chandra Misra of BSP, Tiruchi Siva of DMK and Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena. He said since the Chairman has disallowed a similar notice on Monday, his ruling cannot be reopened. This led to uproar with the opposition members trooping into the well raising slogans.<br />''<br />''The House could not transact any business and only two questions could be taken up, but the replies remained inaudible in the din.<br />''The situation was the same when the House reassembled at 2 p.m. as the opposition members continued to demand a discussion on rise in fuel prices.<br />''<br />''The Deputy Chairman appealed to the protesting members, including those in the Well, to return to their seats. He said 'The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021, should be taken up as it sought to replace the ordinance. But the unrelenting opposition members continued with their protests. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also insisted on taking up the bill saying its passage is essential.<br />''<br />''The Deputy Chairman called Vivek Tankha of the Congress to speak on the Bill. Mr. Tankha said how can he speak when the Leader of Opposition was standing.<br />''<br />''Mr. Kharge said he was not questioning the Chairman's decision on Monday, but urged him to consider the fresh notices for a discussion on fuel prices given today. He also demanded that the rates be brought back to the 2013-2014 levels. The Congress leader said the entire country is suffering due to the price hike of petroleum products and essential commodities and urged the Chair to allow a discussion.<br />''<br />''Mr. Harivansh said he cannot reopen it since the Chairman has already disallowed the notice. He then asked Manoj Jha of the RJD to speak on the bill, who said the House was not in order.<br />''<br />''Congress Deputy Leader Anand Sharma said according to the tradition of the House, no government bill is taken up amid the din. He insisted that the opposition has the right to take up the issue. He said it is unfortunate that norms are being violated repeatedly by the government. He said the government should not try to introduce new business without settling the question raised by the opposition.<br />''Amid the uproar, the Deputy Chairman adjourned the House for the day. <br />''<br />''Earlier, Congress members, joined by other opposition parties, trooped to the well and persisted with their demand for a discussion even after the Chairman disallowing the notice by Mr. Kharge.<br />''<br />''When the House met at Noon, the Deputy Chairman urged the protesting members to take their seats and allow the Question Hour to go on. The opposition members, however, continued to protest and raised slogans against the government.<br />''The Deputy Chairman continued with the Question Hour, but adjourned the House till 2 p.m. after the protesting members raised their pitch.<br />''<br />''Soon after the tabling  of papers and committee reports in the morning, members belonging to Congress, DMK, Left parties, BSP and Shiv Sena were on their feet seeking the suspension of the business to take up a discussion on the fuel price hikes.<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Bhupendra Yadav of the BJP countered the opposition, saying that the ruling of the Chairman is final and the notices cannot be reopened.</span><br />