The Indo-US civilian nuclear deal issue rocked Parliament on Thursday with both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha being adjourned for the day over the issue.
In the Lok Sabha, Opposition members were in no mood to listen to Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's, who repeatedly pleaded to allow the Question Hour.
The National Democratic Alliance members chanted slogans "we want JPC" as BJP leader V K Malhotra demanded suspension of the Question Hour. The Speaker said it was unfortunate that such disruptions were taking place every day.
In the Rajya Sabha, Bharatiya Janata Party members disrupted proceedings, forcing chairman Hamid Ansari to adjourn the House repeatedly. The BJP members argued they had not been informed that the House would take up a debate on the 123 Agreement.
Talking to rediff.com, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj claimed her party had not been invited to participate in the all-party meeting called by the chairman to sort out the matter.
"Justice Rajinder Sachar committee was slated to be discussed, but instead they took up 123 Agreement for debate,' she said. Her argument was rejected by Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, who said the BJP did not have to wait for an invitation from the chairman to attend the meeting.
"Speaker Somnath Chatterjee ruled that discussion could take place without voting. However, the BJP wanted discussion with voting. There is no question of having a Joint Parliament Committee to discuss an international committee. They got an opportunity to discuss the agreement, but they are not willing to do that," Sibal told media persons.
Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member Sitaram Yechury, who had been criticising the UPA government for not setting up a committee to address the points raised by the Left parties, was all praise for the government and accused the BJP of shirking discussions on the agreement.
The government rejected the Opposition demand for the JPC on the nuclear deal, citing Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's ruling that the House has "no competence"
to scrutinise international agreements.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi wondered why the Opposition was hell-bent on a JPC despite observations by the Speaker.