NEW DELHI: The budget session of Parliament ended abruptly on Wednesday with the Government suddenly deciding to adjourn both Houses sine die.

Opposition members alleged that it was meant to bring in an ordinance to amend the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 to exclude offices held by top politicians from the purview of "office of profit."

Unfortunate, says Advani

In the Lok Sabha, the Leader of the Opposition, L.K. Advani, said the abrupt ending was a "singularly unfortunate event in the history of Parliament."

In the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition leader, Jaswant Singh, walked out after he was prevented by the Treasury benches from speaking.

The presiding officers of both Houses said the Government advised them to adjourn sine die as the financial business — the Finance Bill was passed on Tuesday — was over, and that there was no business for the post-recess session.

Parliament was earlier slated to meet for the second part of the budget session from May 10 to 23 after going into recess on Thursday.

Both Houses saw adjournments, with the BJP-led Opposition raising the issue and the Samajwadi Party members trooping into the well of the Houses.

They waved copies of a newspaper, which reported that the Government planned to bring in an ordinance to amend the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959.

They also demanded the removal of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla.

After two adjournments before noon, Mr. Advani cautioned the Government not to curtail the session without holding consultations.

Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) quoted the remarks of the Shah Commission against Mr. Chawla. It probed the excesses during the Emergency in 1975.

Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal said a notice was required to discuss the functioning of a Constitutional authority. Later, Samajwadi Party members waved notes and raised slogans against Mr. Chawla.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee chaired the proceedings till the first adjournment.

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