Agitated over the formation of a committee between the United Progressive Alliance and its Left allies over the India-United States civil nuclear deal, Opposition National Democratic Alliance and the Third Front on Friday stalled proceedings in both Houses of Parliament and demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee, which was rejected by the government.
The Bharatiya Janata Party moved a privilege motion in the Lok Sabha against the government for announcing the formation of the committee outside Parliament when it is in session.
Speaker Somnath Chatterjee admitted the notice for the motion given by Deputy Leader of Opposition V K Malhotra and said he will take a decision on it.
Rejecting the contention of NDA and the Third Front which disrupted the proceedings as soon as the House met, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the committee did not have any official status and was an "internal arrangement" between the UPA and its allies.
Had the government constituted any committee, it would have had representatives of all the parties, the Leader of the House emphasised amid slogan-shouting by opposition members criticising the decision.
Ruling out formation of JPC to study the Indo-US nuclear deal as demanded by the NDA and Third Front, Mukherjee said it was not required as there was no precedence of any international agreement having been subjected to Parliament's "scrutiny".
The members from NDA and Third Front were unrelenting and continued shouting slogans like the government had "deceived the nation". Sensing the mood, the speaker adjourned the House till noon.
Similar scenes were witnessed in Rajya Sabha also with the NDA and Third Front members demanding formation of JPC. Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the House till noon.