NEW DELHI: Parliament was adjourned for the day on Thursday after witnessing stormy scenes over the death of over a dozen people in police action at Nandigram in West Bengal. The Opposition stalled proceedings in both Houses demanding the "dismissal'' of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Government in the State.

Both the upper and lower Houses saw repeated adjournments during the pre-lunch session as the Opposition sought suspension of the question hour to discuss the Nandigram incident. While the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day at noon, the Lok Sabha called it a day at 2 p.m. after three adjournments.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told the Lok Sabha that the Government was prepared to make a statement on the naxalite attack in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh where 49 people, including 15 policemen had been killed and on Nandigram as and when they received the report from the State Government.

Pandemonium broke out in the Lok Sabha as soon as it assembled with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena members seeking suspension of the question hour to take up the issue.

The Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, who was in the Chair, turned down the request but permitted the Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani to raise the matter. This evoked a sharp response from the Left parties who sought to know under which rule permission had been granted to Mr. Advani.

As the two sides engaged in a verbal duel, the House was adjourned until noon. The situation was no better when the Lok Sabha re-assembled, forcing another adjournment for half-an-hour after tabling of papers amidst confusion. Ruckus prevailed in the post-lunch session also and the House was finally adjourned for the day at 2 p.m.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day at noon after the National Democratic Alliance members sought a resolution condemning the incident and dismissal of the West Bengal Government.

Trouble erupted as soon as the House assembled and Leader of Opposition Jaswant Singh began to speak. Condemning the reported killing of farmers in Nandigram he said the House should adopt a resolution condemning the incident. This was opposed by Brinda Karat (CPI-M) and her party colleagues.

Almost all the NDA members were on their feet, some of them raising slogans against West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Amidst the din, S.S. Ahluwalia sought suspension of the question hour, while a few Congress members were seen waving the List of Questions demanding that questions be taken up.

Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat adjourned the House for an hour. When it re-assembled, the entire NDA, along with All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham members were on their feet in protest. CPI-M members opposed them. After tabling of papers, Deputy Chairman K. Raman Khan adjourned the House for the day.

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