New Delhi, December 22
Amidst protests from the Congress members, the Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP members today raised the alleged “intranet scam” involving Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s son in both Houses of Parliament.
While the Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee allowed the SAD MP Sukhbir Badal to raise the issue at the end of zero hour, Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat disallowed BJP member Arun Jaitley from raising the issue as he had not clarified whether the matter was sub-judice or not.
As Mr Badal demanded a probe by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence into the scam as it involved the violation of FERA and FEMA, which are central legislations, the Congress MP, Mr Pawan Bansal, protested that the Akalis could not speak about someone who was not present in the House.
Continuing with his allegation, Mr Badal narrated the probe by a daily into the alleged scam by the son of the state Chief Minister and the cover-up operation.
He also repeatedly waved the copies of the newspaper, which carried the alleged scam some months ago.
Congress MPs also insisted that the House could not discuss any news item as it was not regarded as authentic material admissible in courts or Parliament.
As the Akali MP continued with his allegations, the Speaker said they could not wave copies of the newspaper.
However, as Mr Badal continued listing the details of the “intranet scam”, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee intervened and asked the Akali MP not to make any allegation against someone who was not present in the House. Mr Badal, then trained his guns on the Amarinder Singh led Congress Government in the state.
He said “There are two sets of administration in Punjab — one is harassing political opponents and the other is rewarding a select few. There is complete breakdown of the constitutional machinery in the state.”
Earlier, at the begining of the zero hour, the Akali MPs tried to raise the issue by waving the newspaper copies.
“You should learn how to raise any issue,” the Speaker reprimanded, asking the SAD parliamentarians to go back to their seats.
As the Akalis insisted on being given an opportunity to raise the issue, BJP chief Lal Krishna Advani intervened and the Speaker allowed the matter to be raised at the end of zero hour. In the Upper House, however, the matter could not be raised despite
persistent effort by the BJP leaders.
Soon after question hour, BJP MP Arun Jaitley wanted to bring to the attention of the House on the “intranet scam”.
However, the Deputy Chairman A Rehman Khan, who was in the Chair at that point of time, said the Chairman had not permitted to raise the issue so far.
“Your submission for raising the issue is still pending with the Chairman,” he said.
However, several BJP members, including Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu, Mr S.S. Ahluwalia, Mr Yashwant Sinha and Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad were immediately on their feet and said the issue was agitating their minds and Mr Jaitley should be allowed to speak.
At this juncture, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Jaswant Singh, intervened and pleaded that “you can let him make his submission.”
However, Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, wondered how the BJP member could raise the issue when the Chairman had not permitted him to do so.
