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Both Houses disrupted again

Special Correspondent

Jaswant allowed to speak after wrangling; Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day

NEW DELHI: Parliament continued to be in turmoil on Tuesday with battle lines being drawn between the Congress, the Left Parties and the Samajwadi Party (SP), on one side, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the other.

The former wanted to be allowed to speak on the Gujarat encounters while the latter added a new demand — resignation of the convicted Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Md. Shahabuddin — to the existing issues of Nandigram firing and the presence of Lashkar-e-Taiba activists at a public meeting in Srinagar.

Though order was restored in the Lok Sabha and the post-lunch session went smoothly, the Rajya Sabha continued to be in turmoil even after Leader of the Opposition Jaswant Singh was allowed to speak after protracted wrangling between Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and the Congress, Left and SP members.

As soon as Mr. Singh finished speaking, V. Narayanasamy (Congress) was on his feet to raise a zero hour matter but was not allowed by Mr. Shekhawat as he was still examining the notices sent on various issues.

This agitated the Congress, Left and SP members with Satyavrat Chaturvedi (Congress) pointing out that his party apprehended that they would not be allowed to speak. Other members also said they were let down because they had relented under the impression that they would be allowed to speak after Mr. Singh.

Amid the commotion that followed, the Chair abruptly adjourned the House for the day.

Proceedings began on a stormy note with the Lok Sabha being adjourned within minutes and the Rajya Sabha following suit after question hour.

A second adjournment followed in the Lok Sabha and lasted till after lunch, while the Rajya Sabha assembled again only to be adjourned. Normal business resumed in the Lok Sabha after lunch but the Congress, Left and SP members in the Rajya Sabha sought an assurance from Mr. Shekhawat that they would also be allowed to speak after Mr. Singh.

"What is the message you are trying to send by not allowing the Leader of the Opposition to speak? I will allow everyone," Mr. Shekhawat said in the morning.

In the afternoon, however, he said members should delink their being allowed to speak from the prerogative of the Leader of the Opposition to raise an issue.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachouri responded: "It is the tradition of the House that whenever the Leader of the Opposition has sought to speak he has been allowed to do so. But I would humbly draw your attention to the fact that others too are agitated and want to put across their views."

However, the House was adjourned for the day after question hour and after official papers were tabled.

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