The Hindu : New Delhi News : Saddam Hussein issue rocks Delhi Assembly

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Sunday, Jan 07, 2007
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Saddam Hussein issue rocks Delhi Assembly

Staff Reporter

NCP seeks an obituary reference for the slain leader

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit arriving to attend the special session of the Delhi Assembly on Saturday. — PHOTO: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

NEW DELHI: The issue of hanging of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein rocked the Delhi Assembly on Saturday with Delhi Nationalist Congress Party chief Ramvir Singh Bidhuri seeking an obituary reference for the slain leader and the Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs raising their voice against it.

As soon as the Special Session of the Assembly, called to discuss the Master Plan for Delhi-2021 and the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2007 began, Mr. Bidhuri surprised everyone by taking up the issue of Saddam Hussein's hanging. Describing the Iraqi leader as "a true friend of India'', he said Saddam had also supported India on the Kashmir issue, had supplied oil to India in instalments during the oil crisis and was among the first people to support the creation of Bangladesh. However, his demand that "America should be criticised'' did not find any support. On the other hand, BJP MLAs were on their feet criticising the move. Former Delhi BJP president Mange Ram Garg was heard telling Mr Bidhuri that he should "first think of India''.

Mr. Bidhuri walked out of the House in protest after his resolution was defeated .

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