Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday tried to broach the torching of a gang-rape complainant in Unnao but Chairperson M. Venkaiah Naidu would not allow it on the ground that the MPs had not sought his permission in advance.

The development came two days after the Upper House unanimously condemned the rape and murder of a woman in Hyderabad, with Naidu suggesting withdrawal of the provisions of court appeals and clemency for people convicted of such crimes.

On Thursday, Samajwadi member Ram Gopal Yadav, Congress member Anand Sharma and Trinamul member Derek O’Brien tried to speak on the Unnao incident during Zero Hour, when members are allowed to raise issues of national importance.

“The members who have met me and taken my permission or have conveyed to me by writing letters and those (issues) which I have admitted, such members will raise,” Naidu said.

Earlier, leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and O’Brien had protested that no calling attention motion or short-duration discussion had been scheduled for the current week. The business advisory committee had decided there would be a short-duration discussion and a calling attention motion every week.

Azad said the House should have at least two short-duration discussions and one calling attention motion next week.

Naidu said he had admitted a calling attention motion for Thursday but the minister concerned had conveyed to him he was unwell and requested a deferment till next week. So, it had been rescheduled to next Tuesday.