The Hindu : National : Uproar as Opposition insists on Manmohan’s statement

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 26, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Uproar as Opposition insists on Manmohan’s statement

Sandeep Joshi

NEW DELHI: Members of the BJP and the AIADMK on Friday forced adjournments in the Rajya Sabha demanding a reply from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue of Surface Transport and Shipping Minister T.R. Baalu using his influence to get gas supply for his sons’ firm.

The day began with the Opposition raising the matter of removal of V. Maitreyan of the AIADMK from the House for a day for misconduct while raising the issue on Thursday. They urged Chairman Hamid Ansari to expunge it from records. But Mr. Ansari said nobody was punished or castigated.

“All that happened was pursuant to a rule of the House… The member’s attention was drawn to that rule to which he complied. There was no condemnation. The day is over, the matter is over.”

However, after question hour was over, the BJP and the AIADMK members again raised the matter and demanded that Dr. Singh come clean on the issue. The BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad and Sushma Swaraj demanded that Dr. Singh make a statement on the letters purportedly written by the Prime Minister’s Office asking the Petroleum Ministry to expedite release of gas to the companies owned by Mr. Baalu’s family members.

As sloganeering continued, Vice-Chairman P.J. Kurien, who was in the chair, adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

When it met again at 12.30 p.m., the impasse continued. This led to a second adjournment.

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

National