MPs demand Sen's recall; Parliament adjourned

The remarks of Indian Ambassador to the US Ronen Sen allegedly against MPs opposing the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement rocked Parliament for the second day on Wednesday with members stalling proceedings demanding recall of the envoy.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon and the Rajya Sabha till 1400 hours within minutes of their assembling as the opposition National Democratic Alliance and the Third Front vociferously raised the issue.

In the Lok Sabha, deputy leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party V K Malhotra said the correspondent who interviewed Sen had confirmed that everything was on record.

"Therefore, we want to know what action has been taken against Sen," he said.

Malhotra wanted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was present in the House, to inform members what action the government had taken against the envoy.

As soon as the House met, members belonging to the BJP, the Samajwadi Party and the Left including Rupchand Pal (Communist Party of India-Marxist), M Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) and Ramji Lal Suman (SP) were on their feet demanding the immediate recall of Sen.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee appealed to them to maintain calm and said, "If you want me to take action, you have to give me some time. Have faith in the chair."

On the basis of an alleged observation of the envoy, the whole Parliament cannot come to standstill, he said adding, the country cannot be held to ransom.

"There are deliberate attempts by members day in and day out to disrupt the proceedings. It seems they are not desirous of running the House. Therefore, I adjourn it till noon," Chatterjee said.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha where the protest was led by BJP leaders Venkaiah Naidu, Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie and was supported by SP's Amar Singh.

Sinha wanted the chair to permit members to make their points before the Question Hour was taken up.

Chairman Hamid Ansari said he had received a number of notices and the issue could be discussed during Zero Hour.

"We are taking notice of it. We took notice of it yesterday. We are taking notice of it today," he said.

Sinha said Parliament cannot take comments made by Sen lying down.

The chairman's repeated pleas to allow the Question Hour to be taken up went unheeded as slogan-shouting opposition members demanded recall of Sen.

"You leave me with no choice but to adjourn the House till noon," Ansari said.

When the Rajya Sabha reassembled, it was action replay with NDA and Third Front members demanding immediate recall of the envoy.

Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan's repeated requests to members to raise the matter later went unheeded.

"Please allow laying of papers. Heavens will not fall if you raise it afterwards," he pleaded with the members.

Amidst the din, papers and some Special Mentions were tabled.

But, angry members continued their protest and rushed into the well shouting slogans. As the din continued, the chair adjourned the House till 1400 hours.