Discussion on the much-touted Food Security Bill in Parliament was scuttled on Tuesday when the opposition created uproar about the missing files in the coal block allocation case.
The aggressive opposition paralysed the proceedings despite Coal Minister Shriprakash Jaiswal’s assurances -- that no stone would be left unturned in tracing the documents to be provided to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The food bill, which provides for entitlement of highly-subsidised rations to two-third population of the country, was listed for debate in the Lok Sabha, to coincide with the birth anniversary of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi today.
The discussion could not be taken up as the opposition created ruckus over the issue of missing files in the coal block allocation scam.
Meanwhile, Congress members from Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema region and Telugu Desam Party members also protested the formation of Telangana state.
Raising the issue, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj reminded the government that the prime minister had taken "full responsibility" for the decisions of the coal ministry, in a statement he made in the House on August 27 last year.
Amid cries of "shame-shame" and "pradhan mantri jawab do", Swaraj said the files included applications for coal blocks and alleged that they have gone missing as some big leaders of the Congress were involved in the scam.
She wanted the Speaker to direct the prime minister to make a statement.
Dr Singh had held the coal portfolio between 2006 and 2009 when the coal blocks were allocated.
Rajya Sabha also witnessed uproar, after which Jaiswal made a statement saying that a committee has been constituted to look into the issue of missing files.
"I would like to assure the House that my ministry would leave no stone unturned in tracing and providing the documents sought by the CBI," he said.
He sought to mollify the opposition, saying he was ready to face any punishment if found guilty of the allegations.
But the opposition was not satisfied with the statement.
Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley asked whether any FIR has been lodged by the coal ministry about missing files.
After repeated adjournments following the uproar, both the Houses were adjourned for the day.
In the Rajya Sabha, Bharatiya Janata Party’s Members of Parliament started demanding a statement from the prime minister on the missing files as soon as the House met.
BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said the prime minister should come to the House and assure it that the files are safe. He said the issue related with files should be taken up first.
Jaiswal, who came to the House after the first adjournment, tried to make a statement, but BJP members insisted that it should come from none other than the prime minister.
The opposition parties did not allow Jaiswal to complete his statement.
Deputy Leader of Opposition Ravi Shankar Prasad termed the coal scam as the “biggest one” and alleged that some of the missing files are related with companies associated with members of the ruling party.
"We want it (a statement) from the prime minister. Serious questions are being raised about the minister," he said.
The issues of Telangana creation and onion prices were also raised in the Lok Sabha.
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam demanded that India should boycott the proposed Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet to be held in Colombo in November as Sri Lanka was violating the human rights of ethnic Tamils and targeting Indian fishermen.
While TDP MPs stormed the Well, some Congress MPs held placards and shouted slogans against the decision to create Telangana.
The TDP MPs wore shirts that stated, 'Save Andhra Pradesh, Save Democracy'.
