New Delhi, April 21
Agitated Akali Dal MPs, who were demanding tabling of the Nanavati Commission report on the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, today staged a walkout of the Lok Sabha during zero hour protesting Speaker Somnath Chatterjee’s refusal to allow them to raise the issue.

Waving the copy of The Tribune, Akali Dal MP Sukhbir Badal and others raised the issue during zero hour and pointed out to a news report where Justice G.T. Nanavati had asked the government to “reopen cases against a few politicians” involved in the riots, as “investigation against them was not properly carried out.”

The Speaker denied permission to discuss the issue as the Akali MPs had not given notice to raise the issue. This infuriated the MPs, who started raising slogans.

Congress members simultaneously raised the issue of pay off in an arms’ deal by a South African company in a bid to suppress the demand by the Akali members. This led to a furore, accompanied by slogan shouting, in the House. The ruling party members surged forward from their seats and the entire House was drowned in the din.

The Speaker took a serious view of the disorderly behaviour by the members from both the parties, saying the House had been reduced to a “tamasha” which was “shameful”. He warned the agitated members by name of disciplinary action.

The Akali members continued protesting against not tabling of the Nanavati report disregarding the Speaker’s plea that they would be allowed to raise the matter after a proper notice to the Lok Sabha Secretariat. Side by side, the Congress members continued with their slogan shouting.

When the Speaker warned Congress members again by name, they resumed their seats, while the Akali members staged a walkout.

Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, the government said it was ready to table in Parliament any report of any commission, provided this was within rules.