SP leaders force adjournment over Jaya's disqualification

New Delhi, Mar 22 (UNI) Opposing the proposed ordinance by the central government to shield UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and others facing disqualification from Parliament, as in the case of SP MP Jaya Bachchan, Opposition members today rushed in the well of both houses and forced adjournment of Parliament.

The central government yesterday reportedly finalised the draft of an ordinance seeking to amend Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959 to exempt a fresh batches of offices, including National Advisory Council chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Council of Cultural Relations chairperson Karan Singh, state development boards and textile boards from being deemed 'offices of profit.' Slogan-shouting Samajwadi Party members, supported by BJP and DMK MPs, waving photocopies of newspaper reports in this regard, said that the ordinance was being brought by the centre to protect Ms Sonia Gandhi.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee first adjourned the house for 15 minutes and then till 1300 hrs as the agitating members would not be pacified while Rajya Sabha chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat for half an hour.

Opposition members demanded that either Ms Sonia Gandhi should also be disqualified or the disqualification of Ms Jaya Bachchan be quashed.

Rajya Sabha Member Ms Bachchan, the chairperson of the UP State Film Council, was disqualified on the ground of holding an office of profit in Uttar Pradesh.

UNI JSS/SU VD GC1130