Irate opposition forces adjournment of Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, July 27 (UNI) An obdurate opposition, incensed over an unsubstantiated allegation by a Congress menber against the Leader of the Opposition, compelled the Chair to adjourn the Rajya Sabha summarily here tonight.

During a short duration discussion on the July 11 Mumbai blasts, Congress member Rajeev Shukla made certain allegations against Leader of the Oppostion Jaswant Singh -- erstwhile External Affairs Minister during the December 1999 hijack of flight IC 814 to Kandahar.

And cheekily, Mr Shukla sought confirmation about the charges he had made from senior BJP leader and the then Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha.

This impelled opposition BJP members to vehemently protest the unsubstantiated -- and violative of rules of conduct of the House -- allegations.

BJP Chief Whip S S Ahluwalia repeatedly referred to the relevant rules to buttress his argument that Mr Shukla had overstepped the line -- but Vice Chairman P J Kurien found himself at sea in tackling the imbroglio.

The hullabulloo, which saw BJP members storming the well repeatedly, lasted more than half an hour before Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan stepped into the breach.

After having apprised himself of what had transpired, the Deputy Chairman directed Mr Shukla to withdraw his remarks. This Mr Shukla immediately did not.

The vociferous BJP protests continuing ultimately saw Mr Khan ordering adjournment --the Chair having opted the safer path of inspecting the House records before reaching a final verdict on the contentious issue.

UNI DG/SKS Vd BD2044