Natwar issue forces Rajya Sabha adjournment

New Delhi, Aug 10: Uproarious protests by the Opposition over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh leaving the Rajya Sabha as Members were about to raise the Natwar Singh issue in the beginning of Zero Hour today forced adjournment of the House for half an hour.

''Call back the Prime Minister, we want a reply from him,'' shouted former External Affairs Minister and senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha and his party members, including Ms Sushma Swaraj, with Members from the Samajwadi and other parties joining in.

Mr Natwar Singh, who has been indicted in the Pathak Authority Report following which he has come out in an open conflict with the Congress and the Prime Minister, was present in the House during the proceedings.

Mr Sinha said the Prime Minister has shown great disregard to the House by leaving when they were about to raise the issue.

Ms Swaraj, addressing the Chair, said, ''We wanted to raise the issue during Question Hour because the Prime Minister usually leaves the House after that, but you asked us to defer it till Zero Hour. Now you should act on your assurance.'' When Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat responded by saying, ''I cannot call back the Prime Minister'' the Members broke into an uproar, shouting, ''Call back the PM you are not helpless'', ''You have the power to summon him'', ''Order him to come back''.

The Chair, on finding the Members unrelenting in their demand, announced adjournment of the House till 1230 hrs.

UNI