M A I N   N E W S

‘Tehelka’ outside Parliament
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 15
An unrelenting Opposition today continued with its protests over the revelations in the video clippings brought out by a dotcom company and stalled the proceedings in both the Houses of Parliament, forcing adjournment for the day without transacting any business.

The slogan-shouting Opposition members stormed the Well of both the Houses demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister on the arms deal corruption issue.

The turmoil was not restricted to the two Houses of Parliament. It spilled outside with members from both the ruling and Opposition parties converting the main gate into a battleground.

Immediately after both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day amidst uproarious scenes, agitated Opposition members rushed to the main gate to ventilate their ire.

As they shouted “Gali gali mein shor hai, Vajpayee chor hai”, they were countered by equally vociferous ruling party members who shouted at the top of their voice “Congress ka yeh shadyantra nahin chalega”.

Members belonging to the Samajwadi Party led by its President Mulayam Singh Yadav also raised slogans against the government.

As the slogan-shouting reached its peak, there was a melee at the entrance, forcing security personnel to cordon off the area.

Inside Parliament for the third day running, the Opposition parties kept up their demand for the resignation of the Vajpayee government, saying that it had been “caught red-handed” on bribes.

In the Lok Sabha, members from both sides raised slogans “chor hai, chor hai,” even before the House was called to order.

Finding the Opposition in an unrelenting mood, Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi adjourned the House for the day.

Ruling party members moved to the front rows but were restrained by their leaders from going to the Well.

In the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition refused to relent despite repeated efforts by Chairman Krishan Kant to restore order.

Chairman’s suggestion that Congress member Suresh Pachouri speak first for a minute followed by Leader of the House Jaswant Singh went unheeded.

As soon as Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee arrived in the House, some Opposition members asked him to respond to their charges.

The Chairman suggested the issue could be discussed in the House.

“The House should not be made into a zoo. I have regards for the view of the members. I am also concerned as you are concerned. Let us put an end to this stalemate,” he said.

While SP member Janeshwar Mishra shouted “range haath pakda (we have caught them red-handed),” CPI(M) member Jibon Roy remarked, “What happened to zero tolerance?”

Sensing the mood, the Chairman finally adjourned the House for the day.