NEW DELHI: Parliament was adjourned on Thursday amid pandemonium over a news report claiming that the United Progressive Alliance Government interfered with the functioning of the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Babri Masjid case against Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani.

In the Lok Sabha, BJP members did not allow the House to function, leading to four adjournments in the afternoon. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's reply to the motion of thanks to the President's address was lost in the din as the slogan-shouting BJP members sought his resignation.

Advani not present

Mr. Advani, who was supposed to wrap up the discussion, was not present.

Raising the matter before question hour, BJP leader V.K. Malhotra said that only on Wednesday did the Government claim in the House that it had no role in the functioning of the CBI in the Ottavio Quattrocchi case. "And now there is this report that the Government has interfered in the Advani case. Why the double standards?"

In the Upper House, the BJP did not relent even when Dr. Manmohan Singh offered to respond to Opposition leader Jaswant Singh's queries. Its members insisted that another party MP, Arun Jaitley, be allowed to speak and when the Congress members objected to this plea, there was a sharp exchange of words. Raising slogans, the BJP members trooped into the well.

Tabling of papers was the only business conducted by then. A discussion on the Prime Minister's statement on "India's vote in the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran's nuclear programme" could not be held.

Unlikely before Bush arrival

With the Railway budget slated for Friday and the general budget for February 28, it is unlikely that the discussion will be held before the arrival of U.S. President George W. Bush here on March 1.

Mr. Jaswant Singh said he raised the matter as it involved the prestige of his senior colleague and because it was substantive. On the one hand, "Italian arms dealer" Ottavio Quattrocchi was allowed to get away with money in the Bofors payoffs case and, on the other, the Government was interfering in the case against the Opposition leader.

"The Government has asked the CBI to explain in writing why and what steps were taken in the matter. We don't think this is an ordinary matter. It is the duty of the Prime Minister to tell us the facts of the matter," he said.

Mr. Shekhawat said he had received notice only for Mr. Jaswant Singh to speak and would not allow anybody else. His plea to allow the Prime Minister to respond went unheeded, leading to an adjournment.

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