New Delhi, November 25
The terrorist attack on Raghunath Temple in Jammu figured in Parliament today with angry Opposition members disrupting
question hour in both Houses for nearly 10 minutes while demanding a full-fledged discussion on the issue.
Members seeking the suspension of Question Hour to discuss the terrorist attack also raised two other issues — torching of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane’s house and resignation of Justice K. Venkataswami as the head of the Commission probing the Tehelka expose.
Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi and Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat said the attack was a “serious matter” and Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani would make a statement.
As soon as the Lok Sabha assembled for Question Hour, Opposition members were on their feet strongly condemning last night’s attack on the temple in which innocent devotees were killed.
Satyavrat Chaturvedi (Congress) and Akhilesh Singh (Samajwadi Party) gave notices of an adjournment motion to discuss the Jammu attack.
Members also sought to raise the resignation of Justice Venkataswami from the Tehelka probe with Laxman Seth (CPM) demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee inquiry into charges of corruption in defence deals. Joshi said a copy of the notice had been sent to the government for its opinion.
Shiv Sena member Mohan Rawale gave a notice for suspension of Question Hour to discuss the issue of the recent attack on the house of Rane.
In Rajya Sabha, Opposition members demanded suspension of Question Hour to take up the temple attack.
When Congress member Suresh Pachauri refused to relent to the Chairman’s call to restore calm, Shekhawat said “you are exceeding your limit.”
Party member Sanjay Nirupam almost rushed to the Well of the House flashing a newspaper report on the incident before being brought back by his
colleagues.
