Lung power drowns anti-reservation voice in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) Lung power prevailed in the Rajya Sabha today as the BJP's efforts to raise the issue of ''brutal lathicharge'' on the agitating students protesting against the reservations for OBCs in higher education was drowned by the shouts of the the RJD and Congress members.

Even as Mr Kalraj Mishra of the BJP raised the issue of lathicharge against agitating doctors, engineering and management students during the zero hour, the RJD members shouted at the top of their voices with some Congress members joining in. They contended that there was no brutality involved but it was the media that was provoking the mischief.

Stunned at the refusal of the shouting brigade, the BJP members charged the RJD with attempting to make the whole India Bihar. ''You have made use of lathi power in Bihar and you want this to be extended all over the country,'' an angry Yashwant Sinha of the BJP said amid the din.

''You want to divide the country. Peaceful agitation is met with powerful lathis and even in the House attempts to raise the issue is being stifled,'' an angry Mr Mishra charged the treasury benches.

When Mr Narayana Samy, Congress, sought to know why he was not allowed to speak on the same issue because he too had submitted a notice, Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat said that he had allowed Mr Mishra to raise the issue because he had received the notice yesterday while Mr Samy had given his notice today.

''If the House decides there should be no opportunity to raise the issue it would be convenient for me because it is you people who raise the matters concerning brutality on agitators,'' the Speaker said.

Mr Mishra said silencing the students through brutal lathis was no solution to the problem and the agitation would have nationwide impact. They are not being heard at the government level nor is their voice allowed to be aired in Parliament, he said adding this is not a healthy sign, he added.

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