In a rare convergence, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Communist Party of India-Marxist joined hands in Rajya Sabha on Thursday to demand a resolution disapproving certain aspects of the Indo-US nuclear deal.
This led to noisy scenes and two adjournments of the House.
The issue rocked the House soon after it met for the day with BJP leader Sushma Swaraj seeking to know whether the government would move a resolution reflecting the sentiments of the House that goalposts on the deal, signed last year on July 18, should not be shifted.
CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, who also wanted the government to come out with a resolution, supported her.
We are not going beyond what you said. There should be a resolution, motion or declaration," he said.
The demand came up when the nuclear deal came up as the first question in the House during Question Hour.
While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was present in the House, declined to respond to demands that he intervene, Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said national interest was the sole guiding factor while deciding on the deal with the US.
But the BJP members were not satisfied and kept up a din demanding a resolution that was countered by the Treasury benches forcing Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to adjourn the House for 30 minutes till 12 noon.
The voicing of the demand for a resolution by BJP and CPM comes a day after the Prime Minister reportedly told a Left delegation that the Left parties joining hands with BJP on a Parliament resolution could spell problems for the government's stability.