NEWSLINKS US EDITION COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Speaker G M C Balayogi on Monday adjourned the Lok Sabha for the day after the Opposition refused to let the House function demanding the resignation of the Vajpayee government following the defence deals expose.
Immediately after the Lok Sabha had convened on Monday morning, Opposition members began demanding the government's resignation. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan's request to members from both sides to resume their seats was ignored.
Considering the circumstances, the Speaker adjourned the House till 1200 hours (IST). However, when the House reassembled, the Opposition refused to budge forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day.
News agency reports said that an angry Opposition led by the Congress stormed into the well as soon as the Lok Sabha assembled, shouting, "We want resignation." This was countered by slogans from the treasury benches.
Amid the din, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was seen confabulating with Home Minister L K Advani.
Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi stood as her party members raised slogans against the government.
Besides the Congress, members from the Samajwadi Party, Left parties, Rashtriya Janata Dal and others were in the well.
The day's listed business included a crucial vote on account, discussion on the Railway Budget, the farmers' issue and recent crash in the stock market.
The scenario was repeated in the Rajya Sabha leading to the House being adjourned till 1430 hours (IST) and then for the day.
Opposition members, however, allowed Chairman Krishan Kant to make an obituary reference before resuming their slogan-shouting, preventing the start of question hour in the House.
After repeated pleas for order, Kant adjourned the House till 1430 hrs.
Earlier, members observed a minute's silence over the passing away of a former member, 80-year-old Shanti Tyagi, who had represented Uttar Pradesh in the House.
Barely had Kant finished the obituary reference, than the Opposition sprang to their feet demanding 'NDA sarkar isthifa do (NDA Government should resign).''
Rajya Sabha Dy Chairperson Najma Heptullah adjourned the House for the day in the post-lunch session after Opposition members created a protracted pandemonium over the Tehelka expose.
Heptullah, however, allowed two ministers to lay papers on the table relating to supplementary demands for grants for their respective ministries.
The Complete Coverage | Defence sites
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
