RS adjourned for the day over Varanasi blasts

New Delhi, Mar 8 (UNI) An angry opposition today forced the adjournment of Rajya Sabha over the Varanasi bomb blasts after disrupting the question hour and also forestalling the reply of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad to the discussion on Railway budget.

As soon as the House reassembled at noon, the BJP members shouting slogans ''Jai Bajrang Bali'' and ''Har Har Mahadev'' and trooped into the well of the House.

Leader of the Opposition Jaswant Singh and other senior leaders remained in their seats but the back benchers marched into the well of the House shouting slogans.

Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan who was in the Chair allowed the papers to be laid amid the din and slogan-shouting.

When the opposition failed to calm down and it became impossible for the Railway Minister to reply to the debate on the Railway Budget, Mr Khan adjourned the House for the day within three to four minutes of sitting.

Earlier in the day, the House witnessed din and commotion even after Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri told the House that Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who was visiting the site of the blasts, would make his statement on the issue.

The House was adjourned after repeated pleas by the Chair fell on the deaf ears and pandemonium persited.

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