New Delhi, March 7
Opposition parties led by the Samajwadi Party (SP) stalled the proceedings of the Lok Sabha for the day and of the Rajya Sabha till 2 p.m., protesting against the killing of an MLA in Lucknow yesterday and the prevailing situation in Ayodhya and Gujarat.

Continuing their protests, the Opposition parties also staged a sit-in at the main gate of Parliament House, demanding the resignation of Union Home Minister L.K. Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for their “failure” to contain communal frenzy in Gujarat in time.

In the Lok Sabha, highly agitated Samajwadi Party members were on their feet as soon as the House assembled. Protesting against the killing of their MLA in Lucknow and the carnage in Gujarat, the members did not allow the House to function , forcing it be adjourned for the day.

Samajwadi Party members, who stormed the well of the House raising anti-Government slogans, were supported by RJD and Left Party members.

Agitated over Gujarat killings, RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh displayed a placard and shouted “Advani hatao, desh bachao (remove Home Minister L.K. Advani and save the country)” and also sought resignation of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

In the melee, papers and reports were laid on the table of the House. In an attempt to counter the Opposition tirade, BJP members displayed placards, saying “Shri Ram yagna mein baadha apradh hai” (obstructing yagna is a crime) and “Ayodhya mein gherabandi band karo” (lift restrictions in Ayodhya).

Deputy Speaker P.M. Sayeed repeatedly pleaded with the members to allow normal proceedings, but this hardly made any impact on them, forcing him to adjourn the House for the day. Mr Sayeed had earlier adjourned the House for an hour after the angry members trooped into the well.

In the Rajya Sabha, a determined Opposition stalled question hour, demanding a discussion on the Ayodhya issue and killings in Gujarat leading to the adjournment of the House till 2 p.m. without transacting any business.

Soon after the House assembled after two days of break to mourn the death of Lok Sabha Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi, there was pandemonium with Opposition members vociferously demanding the suspension of question hour to take up burning issues.

While some agitated members demanded action against those involved in the Gujarat killings, Samajwadi Party members, including Amar Singh, sought to raise the murder of their party MLA outside Raj Bhavan in Lucknow yesterday and the Governor’s proposal for imposition of President’s rule in Uttar Pradesh.

Several other members wanted to raise the Ayodhya issue, leading to shouts and counter-shouts from ruling and opposition Benches.

As noisy scenes persisted for over 30 minutes, Chairman Krishan Kant adjourned the House initially till 12 noon. The House reassembled only to be adjourned again till 2 p.m.

Later, led by Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sonia Gandhi, nearly 200 MPs assembled at the main gate of Parliament, protesting against the killings in Gujarat and demanded the resignation of Mr Advani and Mr Modi.