New Delhi, December 9
The Opposition today forced the adjournment of both Houses of Parliament after repeatedly disrupting the proceedings, demanding the resignation of External Affairs Minister SM Krishna for his alleged role in a mining scam in Karnataka during his tenure as the Chief Minister.

Raising slogans, BJP members argued that Krishna’s position in the Cabinet had become untenable after an FIR was lodged against him by the Karnataka Lokayukta police. They frequently rushed to the Well in both Houses soon after Parliament met for the day, leading to the adjournment of the Question Hour.

In the Lok Sabha, BJP members, led by Ananth Kumar, raised slogans ‘SM Krishna istifa do’ (SM Krishna resign). The sloganeering continued for some time and amid the din, Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the proceedings till noon.

When the House reassembled, the Opposition heard Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's reply to the debate on inflation and staged a walkout after expressing dissatisfaction over it. As the Speaker called the Zero Hour, BJP members came back to demand the resignation of Krishna. They demanded that Krishna be sacked. With members unrelenting, the Speaker adjourned the Lok Sabha till Monday.

In the Rajya Sabha too, BJP members raised slogans against Krishna, prompting Chairman Hamid Ansari to adjourn the proceedings till noon. Similar scenes were witnessed in the House when it reassembled, leaving the Chair with no option but to adjourn the proceedings till 1430 hrs.

But there was no change in the situation even in the post-lunch session. BJP members, led by Rudra Narayan Pany and Purshottam Rupala, stormed into the Well raising slogans against Krishna. PJ Kurien, who was in the chair, pleaded with BJP members to allow private members' business to be taken up. But all his pleas fell on deaf ears, forcing him to adjourn the House till Monday.

Later, senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said the Congress and the UPA should not adopt double standards. “When the Karnataka Lokayukta filed its report naming then Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, the Cong-ress vehemently demanded his (Yeddyurappa’s) resignation. Now, how can they let Krishna continue in his post, especially after the registration of an FIR against him,” wondered Naidu.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, however, ridiculed the BJP’s demand, saying no parallel could be drawn between Yeddyurappa and Krishna.