M A I N   N E W S

RSS issue rocks Parliament

NEW DELHI, Feb 28 (PTI) — The RSS-government staff controversy rocked Parliament for the third day in succession today resulting in a deadlock on the Opposition demand for a discussion under a Rule that would amount to censure of the Centre in the Lok Sabha.

The standoff threatens to derail the presentation of the Budget for 2000-2001 scheduled for 2 pm tomorrow with the main Opposition Congress saying that it would decide on the issue in the morning.

A meeting between the government and the opposition leaders convened by Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi failed to resolve the standoff with the Opposition insisting that a discussion on the issue should be allowed under Rule 184 that provides for voting.

As the uproar continued, he adjourned the House till tomorrow.

The vexed issue also rocked the Rajya Sabha today with the Opposition demanding withdrawal of the circular by the state government in this regard.

The House had a short duration discussion on the issue in the afternoon which was suddenly scheduled to replace the listed discussion on motion of thanks to the President’s address.

The Opposition members vehemently criticised the Centre for not taking any action to direct the Gujarat government to withdraw the circular.