M A I N   N E W S

Coffingate rocks Parliament
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 8
The coffingate issue reared its head again in Parliament today as Congress-led Opposition members staged a walkout, refusing to recognise Defence Minister George Fernandes’ right to reply on the latest revelations published in a section of the Press this morning.

The Congress which had raised the issue of the latest revelations, which said the price of the caskets bought by India to carry the bodies of soldiers was almost twice of what they were actually even bought in the USA was joined by the other Opposition parties on the issue.

They stalled the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha for almost 40 minutes before the Chairman, Mr Krishan Kant, adjourned the House for 15 minutes. As soon as the House reassembled, just about six minutes before lunch break, the Congress-led Opposition refused to recognise the right of Mr Fernandes to reply on the issue and staged a walkout.

The Opposition was demanding a statement from the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, on not only the latest revelations on the coffingate scandal but also on the directions given by the Delhi High Court to the CBI to register a case against Mr Fernandes on the issue. The orders were given on a PIL petition filed in the court.

Earlier, after Congress member Suresh Pauchori had raised the issue, the Chair gave Mr Fernandes the permission to explain the position, which the Opposition refused to accept. There was turmoil in the House as the Opposition and the Treasury Benches exchanged strong words forcing the Chairman to adjourn the House.

As soon as the House reassembled all Opposition members, barring the AIADMK, walked out of the House.

BJP forces House adjournment
Uproar over remarks on Savarkar
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 8
Agitated over the remarks on the Veer Savarkar, MPs from the BJP and Shiv Sena today forced the Chair to adjourn the Lok Sabha till 2 p.m.

The Lower House witnessed uproar as agitated BJP and Shiv Sena members demanded an apology from a CPM member Basudeb Acharia for his remarks against freedom fighter Veer Savarkar, forcing Deputy Speaker P.M. Sayeed to adjourn the House for 90 minutes.

The trouble began during zero hour when Mr Acharia referred to the renaming of Port Blair Airport as “Veer Savarkar Airport” by Union Home Minister L.K. Advani on Saturday and said his comparison of Savarkar with Subhash Chandra Bose on the occasion was “an insult” to Netaji.

Mr Acharia alleged that Savarkar who had spent 10 years in the Cellular Jail of Andaman and Nicobar Islands had surrendered to the British and prayed for clemency.

Mr Acharia’s remarks sparked loud protests from the ruling party members who shouted “Basudeb, maafi mango (Basudeb should apologise)” saying that he had insulted the entire lot of freedom fighters.

The ruling party members refused to resume their seats even after the Deputy Speaker repeatedly told them that he would expunge “derogatory, defamatory and unparliamentary” remarks against Veer Savarkar.

Even after the House was adjourned some ruling party members were seen having heated exchanges with Mr Acharia. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan was seen walking up to the CPM MP and having a word with him.

Stating that no freedom fighter in the country commanded more respect than Savarkar, BJP member Vijay Kumar Malhotra said in fact he should be given “Bharat Ratna”.