The Hindu : New Delhi News : Stir has echo in Lok Sabha

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 09, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Stir has echo in Lok Sabha

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 8. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were today one in the Lok Sabha in demanding release of water by Punjab to Rajasthan to mitigate the plight of the people of the water-starved areas of the State but differed with each other on the ongoing agitation.

While BJP members from Rajasthan sought to raise the issue at the start of proceedings today, the matter came up during Zero Hour with Hannan Mollah of the CPI(M) criticising the State Government for firing on poor farmers.

"They asked for water, and got bullets instead,'' he said; informing the House about his visit to the State.

The CPI(M) member found support in Ramji Lal Suman of the Samajwadi Party even as BJP members from Rajasthan gheraoed the Speaker protesting the apathy of the Centre. Making a brief intervention, the BJP member, Nihal Chand, said the farmers' agitation was sponsored by the Congress and the Left.

He urged the Central Government to intervene and get Punjab to release water to Rajasthan as the same party was in power both at the Centre and in Punjab.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi