Jaswant warns PM against silence on genocide

New Delhi, May 15: The issue of the Doda and Udhampur killings today rocked Rajya Sabha forcing two adjournments in two hours even as Leader of Opposition Jaswant Singh cautioned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh against maintaining ''continual silence'' on the genocide and terorist killings.

Making an impassioned plea after the Chair allowed a discussion on Doda killings, Mr Singh said ''the silence on challenging issues beyond a point would turn into a lie.'' ''It is a great disservice to the nation and the post he holds,'' he said as Congress members protested his point of equating silence with a lie.

The Leader of the Opposition regretted that even when the nation was confronted with genocide, ethnic cleansing and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the combined attitude of the Centre and JK Government was a disinclination to stand up and protest because the victims happen to be 'Hindus and Sanatan Dharma followers,' as they feared they would lose votes. ''Some people are secretly delighted because the attack was on the BJP rally,'' he charged, again drawing protests from the Congress benches.

However, Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan did not allow the members to talk in the middle as they could express their views when they spoke.

Mr Singh said the issue concerning genocide and ethnic cleansing should be responded by either the Prime Minister, Home Minister or Defence Minister to ''indicate the gravity of the situation.'' The Opposition benches started insisting on the presence of one of these three leaders in Rajya Sabha even as the Chair pleaded that it was not possible to because the Lok Sabha was also discussing the issue.

The past rulings state that there shall be the presence of a Cabinet Minister and the members could not insisting on particular persons to be present during the debate, Mr Khan said.

With both the Opposition the Treasury Benches adamant on their positions, Mr Khan adjourned the House till 1300 hours.

UNI