RS adjourned till 1300 hrs on mole issue

New Delhi, Jul 31 (UNI) The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for 45 minutes after the Question Hour amid uproarious scenes on the 'mole in the PMO' controversy with the Opposition demanding a discussion before any other business could be taken up.

After the Question Hour ended at 1200 hrs, normal business was conducted for about 10 minutes with the House adopting three motions.

However, as Deputy Chairman Rahman Khan directed that other business be taken up, Mr Amar Singh (Samajwadi Party) urged that the controversy regarding the revelation made by former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh be taken up for discussion.

The Deputy Chairman said the Chairman had already given a ruling that the matter would be discussed anytime during the day and he (Deputy Chairman) could not change that ruling.

This did not satisfy opposition members, including those of the BJP and SP, who wanted an immediate discussion.

They marched into the well of the House, demanding that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh be present in the House.

Mr Janeshwar Mishra (SP) said an impression had been given by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri that the matter would be taken up after the Question Hour.

Mr Pachauri also read out excerpts of the letter the Prime Minister had written to Mr Jaswant Singh saying that if he had any more information in this regard, this should be made public.

The noise continued for about ten minutes despite repeated pleas by the Deputy Chairman for order in the House. He later adjourned the House at 1215 hrs till 1300 hrs.

Earlier also, the issue rocked the House after Mr Shahid Siddiqui (SP) demanded that the Question Hour be suspended and a discussion be held on the issue of a letter written by a US Senator to an Indian diplomat on the 'mole in the PMO' issue.

The Chair agreed for xxxx Eds: Picking up from second para of PAR 3, Mole-RS.

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