Opposition disrupts RS over Chidambaram controversy

The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday briefly disrupted proceedings in Rajya Sabha over Home Minister P Chidambaram allegedly helping a local hotelier and on a move to ban Bhagwad Gita in Russia.

Soon after the House mourned the deaths in southern Philippines due to cyclone, Chandan Mitra of the BJP raised the issue of Chidambaram allegedly helping his former client, a charge that has been vehemently denied by the home minister. BJP members also expressed anguish over the move in Siberia to ban Bhagwad Gita. Chairman Hamid Ansari said a notice for zero hour mention has been accepted and the issue can be raised them.

An agitated N C Pany of the BJP demanded resignation of Chidambaram for his alleged role in the 2G scam. He also said that the home minister was allegedly behind the midnight crackdown by the Delhi police at the venue of yoga guru Ramdev's agitation at Ramlila grounds here.

Ansari disallowed Mitra, who was supported by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and took up the first listed question of the day. Shortly, thereafter order was restored and the House took up the listed agenda for the day.

Earlier, Ansari mentioned the deaths of over 600 people in flash floods and landslides in southern Philippines. "In some places entire villages have been swept away" in the tropical storm Washi lashing the southern island of

Mindanao and surrounding areas over the weekend," he said. He offered deep condolence for losses suffered by "friendly people of Philippines".

Ansari said people of India stand in solidarity with the people of Philippines in this hour of crisis. The House then observed silence to mourn the deaths.