Another day of protests in Parliament

Proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were disrupted once again on Tuesday over Union Minister A R Antulay's controversial remarks raising doubts over circumstances that led to the killing of Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare.

Soon after Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee made obituary references to former members Baldev Singh Jasrotia and Ashfaq Hussain, Bharatiya Janata Party members were on their feet demanding resignation of Antulay and criticising the government for not making a statement on the issue.

"We are agitated over a minister taking a stand that has made him a hero in Pakistan," Leader of the Opposition L K Advani said, pointing out that the BJP has given a notice for suspension of the Question Hour.

BJP members continued sloganeering over the Antulay issue, while Left members led by Basudeb Acharia were on their feet demanding withdrawal of the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

An exasperated Chatterjee demanded that the government make it clear when they are making a statement on the Antulay issue.

"Now, I will have to give a direction to make a statement. I want to know when (government is making a statement," the Speaker said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi, after consultations with other ministers, told the Speaker that a statement would be made at 1200 hours. When this failed to calm the tempers, Speaker adjourned the House till 1200 hours.

When the House reassembled, similar scenes were witnessed with BJP and Shiv Sena members trooping into the well and shouting slogans against Antulay.

Some were seen tearing the agenda papers and throwing them towards the podium.

The din became louder when CPI-M supported by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Telugu Desam Party members shouted from their seats to protest against an insurance reforms bill and later rushed to the well.

In the prevailing noisy scenes, papers and reports were laid.

As the uproar continued, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan adjourned the House till 1400 hours within 15 minutes of its meeting after the first adjournment during the Question Hour.

The Lok Sabha too witnessed a fresh bout of uproar when it resumed at noon and soon the House had to be adjourned till 1400 hours.

The Opposition members disrupted Home Minister P Chidambaram's statement on details of sequence of events that led to Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare's killing and later staged a walkout in Lok Sabha, protesting against the nature of the statement.