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RLM members stall Parliament

Members of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha (National Democratic Front) stalled proceedings in both Houses of Parliament, forcing the presiding officers to adjourn the session for the day, but failed to extract an assurance as to when the resolution seeking to ratify President's rule in Bihar will be taken up in the Rajya Sabha.

As angry members of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Samajwadi Party, the two constituents of the front, raised slogans demanding revocation of central rule, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Kumaramangalam told the Rajya Sabha that the government would inform the House by March 8 what it proposes to do.

Before adjourning the House for the day, Chairman Krishan Kant refuted the opposition's contention that the government had committed an impropriety by not taking up the resolution in the Upper House. He said the resolution has already been tabled in the House.

Quoting an earlier ruling, Kant said no one could force the government to move the resolution, adding, "If they don't, the proclamation lapses."

Agitated RLM members forced two adjournments of the Lok Sabha during the day before presiding officer Lakshminarayan Pande called it a day.

Earlier, the House witnessed a brief procedural wrangle when former prime minister Chandra Shekhar demanded to know from the chair whether the resolution adopted by the Lok Sabha had been communicated to the Upper House.

Deputy Speaker P M Sayeed said the rules of procedure of the House do not require such a message to be sent to the Rajya Sabha.

Speaker G M C Balayogi went ahead with the question hour, unmindful of the slogan-shouting by the RLM members who had assembled in the well of the House. But neither the supplementaries posed by members nor the ministers' replies were audible in the din.

Before the House was adjourned for the second time, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha introduced a vote-on-account for Goa, which is also under President's rule.

The House also took up briefly a private member's bill before adjourning for the day.

UNI

EARLIER REPORT:
RJD, SP members force Parliament's adjournment over Bihar

The Bihar state page

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