New Delhi, March 16
Opposition led by the BJP today walked out of both Houses of Parliament over Supreme Court Justice S.N. Variava’s revelations that attempts had been made to replace the trial judge in the fodder scam case against Railway Minister Laloo Prasad.

However, the government announced to hold an inquiry into the whole issue. In the Lok Sabha, the Opposition staged a walkout after Speaker Somnath Chatterjee did not allow it to raise the issue. As soon as zero hour began, BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra was on his feet, seeking permission to raise the issue.

But the Speaker did not allow him to raise the issue and asked members to raise matters of public importance. Mr Laloo Prasad was in the House when the Opposition sought to raise the issue.

“It is a matter of judiciary. It has nothing to do with the government,” Mr Chatterjee said when the JD(U) leader Prabhunath Singh and BJP leaders Malhotra and Ananth Kumar repeatedly sought permission to raise the issue.

After Mr Ramjilal Suman (SP) and Ms Sumitra Mahajan (BJP) moved their submissions, the Chair called Mr Raghuraj Singh Shakia (SP) to move his submission. When Mr Sakia was speaking, the Opposition members started creating trouble.

Since the Speaker was unrelenting, Mr Malhotra announced a walkout and led his colleagues out.

In the Rajya Sabha, BJP member Balbir Punj raised the issue during zero hour. He said efforts were being made to interfere in the working of the judiciary.