New Delhi, Dec. 11 (PTI): The Opposition BJP-Shiv
Sena combine today stalled proceedings in Parliament
demanding an apology from Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh's over his remarks on minorities.
Singh's remarks that Minorities, particularly
Muslims, would have the first claim on resources
in welfare and other plans at the National Development
Council meeting were targeted by the Opposition.
The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned
thrice in the pre-lunch session.
Trouble began in Rajya Sabha soon after proceedings
commenced while in Lok Sabha it started after
TRS Supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao took oath and
Speaker Somnath Chatterjee greeted a Parliamentary
delegation from Namibia.
Chanting slogans like "Pradhan Mantri maafi
mangon" (Prime Minister should come to
the House and apologise) and "Desh ko mat
bhanto" (don't divide the nation), BJP
and Shiv Sena members stormed the well.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunshi
was heard alleging that the BJP was attempting
to divide the country.
In the Lok Sabha, Deputy Leader of BJP V K Malhotra
demanded suspension of the Question Hour to
discuss the issue.
"I have the right to seek suspension of
the Question Hour," Malhotra said as other
BJP members demanded an apology from the Prime
Minister and waved copies of his speech.
Malhotra was unrelenting when the Speaker said
he could raise the matter after the Question
Hour.
The Houses were first adjourned to 11.30 a.m.,
a second time till noon and then till 2 p.m.
The moment the Rajya Sabha began its proceedings,
Leader of the Opposition Jaswant Singh tried
to raise the issue but was disallowed by Chairman
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh, Arun Shourie,
Yashwant Sinha (all BJP) and Manohar Joshi (Shiv
Sena) demanded that Singh be allowed to make
a statement.
The Chairman, however, said he would not allow
the Question Hour to be disrupted.
BJP members trooped into the well seeking the
Prime Minister's apology. They alleged that
the Congress was playing votebank politics.
Ruling Benches wanted the House to take up the
Question Hour first.
As the din continued, the Chairman adjourned
the House till 1130 hours.
When the Rajya Sabha met again, the uproar continued
leading to its adjournment till moon.
When the House reassembled after Question Hour,
the same scenario continued with unrelenting
BJP members shouting slogans seeking an apology
from the Prime Minister for his remarks.
In the din, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan asked
the Ministers and other members to lay papers.
As the uproar continued, the Chair adjourned
the House till 1400 hours.
