Tuesday, Apr 16, 2002
Tuesday, Apr 16, 2002 |
| Front Page | ||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Front Page
By Our Special Correspondent
business. Earlier, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha resumed the Budget session after a three-week recess. Adding to the Vajpayee Government's embarrassment was the sight of its allies, mainly the Telugu Desam Party, joining the Opposition demand for an immediate discussion on the Gujarat situation and removal of the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi. The issue is likely to dominate the proceeding in the next few of days with the Opposition having decided to continue with its adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, and a similar motion under rule 170 in the Rajya Sabha, which entails a vote after the discussions. At the end of the day, the Opposition parties made it clear that unless the Government allowed a proper discussion on the Gujarat violence, it could not expect their cooperation on important Government business slated for the session. In the Lok Sabha, the Opposition MPs have filed 56 notices for an adjournment motion, the majority of them by Congress MPs. The tension that had been building up between the Government and the Opposition over the Gujarat violence and the demand for Mr. Modi's resignation boiled over to Parliament. Both sides came prepared for a battle. The Government stuck to its post-Goa stand, and refused to agree to a proposal that the Chair make a reference to the violence that took place at the Sabarmati Ashram. In the Lok Sabha, trouble erupted as soon as the House assembled with the Opposition MPs insisting on an adjournment motion moved by them being taken up before the official business. Predictably, the Government baulked, leading to the standoff between the two sides. No sooner had the Deputy Speaker, P. M. Sayeed, completed welcoming a Parliamentary delegation from Ghana, the Opposition MPs were on their feet pressing for the admission of their motion. Much to the Government's embarrassment, Yerran Naidu of the TDP also stood up to make the same demand. In the midst of the ensuing din, Mr. Naidu said that "the issue is of national importance and it must be discussed on the floor of Parliament''. Several BJP MPs stood up and began shouting in an apparent bid to drown out Mr. Naidu's voice. The Opposition MPs who had maintained a discreet silence while Mr. Naidu was speaking began clamouring for the adjournment motion to be taken up. Mr Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi of the congress urged the Deputy Speaker to accept the Opposition motion as the issue was of paramount importance and concerned the whole nation. He was supported by MPs from the Left parties, the SP, the RJD and the IUML. The BJP MPs sought to counter the demand by rising slogans in favour of Narendra Modi and soon the Opposition MPs came to the well of the House to press their demand at which stage the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House till lunch. Similar scenes were repeated when the House met after lunch and Opposition MPs once again trooped into the well of the House, which was countered by sloganeering from the treasury benches. With both sides unwilling to relent, the House was adjourned for the day. In the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition members raised the issue soon after the newly-elected MPs took oath. In fact, the RJD leader, Laloo Prasad Yadav, who also took the oath today, joined action straightway. However, it was the TDP Rajya Sabha leader, Alladi Rajkumar's voice that lent an edge to the proceedings. In fact, the senior BJP MP, S.P. Gautam's attempt to pacify Mr. Kumar resulted in the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Pramod Mahajan, ticking him off. Soon after, the Chairman, Krishan Kant, adjourned the House for 10 minutes. The second adjournment came after reassembly. Mr. Kant made a reference expressing the shock and anguish of the House at the violence that took place on April 7 within the sacred precincts of the Sabarmati Ashram. The Opposition MPs were on their feet again with some raising slogans. The Chair adjourned the House for the day after asking the members not to raise slogans in the House.
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | Home |
Copyright © 2002, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|