RS adjourned again as Oppn protests ordinance

New Delhi, Mar 22: Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the third time today (Mar 22, 2006), this time for 30 minutes, on the issue of a newspaper report saying the government wanted to bring in an ordinance to amend the 'Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959.

The House was adjourned twice in the pre-lunch session on the same issue.

Immediately after the House assembled at 1400 hrs in the post- lunch session, Samajwadi Party members, led by SP General Secretary Amar Singh, were on their feet demanding an explanation from the government about the expulsion of Party member Mrs Jaya Bachchan.

Mrs Bachchan was expelled last week for holding an office of profit as a member of the Upper House.

The newspaper report said today the government wanted to bring in an ordinace in the current session to amend the law under which Mrs Bachchan was expelled.

This would be done to save senior Congress leaders including UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Dr Karan Singh from a similar fate as they too were holding offices of profit, the SP members said.

They were joined by BJP members in their protest.

The SP members shouted slogans alleging that the government's reported move was meant to save Mrs Sonia Gandhi from expulsion.

Deputy Chairman Rehman Khan called for a discussion on the working of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. However, the protesting members did not allow any discussion, following which the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House till 1430 hrs.

UNI