House adjourned twice on Pranab's instant coffee remark

New Delhi, July 26: An angry retort from Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee that the Ministers could not come out with an ''instant reply like instant coffee'' on the issue of Pakistan building a huge nuclear reactor, caused an uproar in the Rajya Sabha today forcing adjournment of the House twice.

The House was initially adjourned for 30 minutes at 1215 hrs and thereafter again till lunch over the same issue.

The Minister's remark in response to the concerns of the Opposition about Pakistan building a 1000 MW nuclear power station which was capable of producing material for 50 nuclear bombs created a heated atmosphere in the House.

Mr Digvijay Singh (JD-U), who raised the issue, wanted India to have a 'rethink' on the India-US civil nuclear deal which prescribed freezing of weapons programme in view of Pakistan building a huge nuclear capacity. He was joined by Mr Shahid Siddiqui of Samajwadi Party and Dr Murli Manohar Joshi (BJP) who protested against the ''double standard'' prescribed by the US for India and Pakistan.

Responding to the members, the Defence Minister said it was never a practice in the House for the Ministers to come out with immediate response to the issues raised in the House like ''instant coffee'', adding the government would react if there was a debate over the issue, and left the House.

The Opposition BJP took strong exception to Mr Mukherjee's remark and trooped into the well of the House alleging that his behaviour amounted to ''demeaning'' the dignity of the House and demanded Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan ''summon'' him back and reprimand him for insulting the Chair and the House.

The Chair's efforts to get the government's response from Home Minister Shivraj Patil or Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs B K Handique failed to pacify the opposition, and several BJP members including Mr S S Ahluwalia remained in the well of the House demanding the Minister apologise for his conduct.

As the opposition did not relent Mr Khan adjourned the House at 1215 hrs.

As the house reassembled at 1245 hrs, opposition members continued their protests, demanding a reply from the government on the issue. The House was again adjourned till 1400 hrs.

UNI