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Parliament adjourns for the day over Volcker issue

Source:PTI
November 24, 2005

The winter session of Parliament on Thursday began on a stormy note with an unrelenting opposition forcing the adjournment of both Houses over the Iraqi oil pay-offs scam.

They also sought resignations of Union Minister K Natwar Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

While Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day after a first half-an-hour suspension, proceedings in Rajya Sabha ended abruptly at noon amidst slogan shouting by opposition National Democratic Alliance.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.R.Dasmunshi's assurance of a discussion on the Volcker Committee report, in which the Congress and Natwar Singh are enlisted among 'non-contractual' beneficiaries, went unheeded.

The Opposition said Lok Sabha could function only if both of them resigned.

"The House can function only if Sonia Gandhi and Natwar Singh resign. It cannot run till then," BJP Deputy Leader V K Malhotra said.

As the din continued, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee asked the protesting members what they wanted.

"You do not want this House to function? With members persisting with their demand, Chatterjee adjourned the House for the day.

Similar scenes were witnessed in Rajya Sabha as BJP member Rudra Narayan Pani spearheaded the attack, shouting 'we want Natwar Singh to go'.

As opposition members were unrelenting, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan adjourned the House amid acrimonous scenes barely five mintues after it reassembled following a 45-minute adjournment at noon.

Amidst the din, the papers listed for tabling were laid in the Rajya Sabha.
Source: PTI
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