The Hindu : National : Rajya Sabha adjourned over `mole' issue

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Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006

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National

Rajya Sabha adjourned over `mole' issue

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha was adjourned on Monday for 45 minutes during zero hour after slogan-shouting Samajwadi Party and BJP members stormed into the well demanding a discussion on BJP leader Jaswant Singh's letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the presence of a `mole' in the Prime Minister's Office during P.V. Narasimha Rao's rule.

This was in continuation of heated exchanges during question hour between the treasury benches and the Opposition members when Shahid Siddiqui (Samajwadi Party) sought suspension of the question hour to discuss the issue. Congress member V. Narayanasamy said he had also given notice for discussion on the subject.

Leader of Opposition Jaswant Singh said he was ready to respond to any query on the issue raised in the House, "at any time, in whatsoever form, provided you listen to my reply."

Mr. Siddiqui demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh be present in the House when the matter was taken up since it was a question of national security. "The House wants to know what this is all about," he said.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri intervened saying the Leader of the Opposition had expressed a desire that at the appropriate time, in an orderly manner when the issue was raised, he was ready to respond. "There were a lot of questions like how was Masood Azar was released and at whose behest." Shouting him down, the BJP and SP members were on their feet in protest.

Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat ruled that there would be a discussion.

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