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Houses stalled over PM's remark
Published on Mon, Dec 11, 2006 at 09:05, Updated on Mon, Dec 11, 2006 at 15:38 in section
Tags: PM, Manmohan Singh , New Delhi
New Delhi: Incensed over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remarks that Muslims would have the first claim on country's resources, the Opposition BJP and Shiv Sena on Monday stalled both Houses of Parliament, demanding an apology from the premier.
After two adjournments in the pre-lunch session when the members reassembled, BJP and Shiv Sena members didn't allow any business to be conducted and both Houses were eventually adjourned for the day.
It was trouble from the word go in both Houses although in Lok Sabha TRS Supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao could take oath and Speaker Somnath Chatterjee greeted a Parliamentary delegation from Namibia.
As the Houses met for the day, Opposition members were on their feet protesting Prime Minister's statement made at the Inter-State Council meeting on Saturday.
In the Lok Sabha, Deputy Leader of the Opposition V K Malhotra demanded suspension of the Question Hour to discuss the issue. "I have the right to seek the suspension of the Question Hour," Malhotra said as other BJP members demanded an apology from the Prime Minister and waved copies of his speech.
Malhotra was unrelenting when the Speaker said he could raise the matter after the Question Hour. The uproar continued for about seven minutes after which the Speaker adjourned the House till 1130 hours.
When the House met again, similar scenes prevailed and the Speaker adjourned it till noon.
In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Jaswant Singh tried to raise the issue, but was disallowed by Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh, Arun Shourie, Yashwant Sinha (all BJP) and Manohar Joshi (Shiv Sena) demanded that Singh be allowed to make a statement.
The Chairman, however, said he would not allow Question Hour to be disrupted. He said if the issue was important, the Opposition should have given a proper notice for adjournment of the Question Hour. BJP members trooped into the well seeking Prime Minister's apology. They alleged that Congress was playing votebank politics.
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