Natwar's bid to present his case in RS meets Chair's firm rejection

New Delhi, Aug 11 (UNI) Firm rejection by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan of former external affairs minister Natwar Singh's bid to present his case to the House relating to the Justice R S Pathak Authority report today led to uproarious scenes, forcing the chair to adjourn the House till 1400 hrs.

Mr Singh, who has come into open conflict with his party Congress and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after his indictment in the report on the Iraqi Oil-for-Food scam, made a fervent and strong appeal to the Chair during the Zero Hour to allow him to speak under rule 241, but met with a curt rejection by the Deputy Chairman.

''I am a responsible Member of the House,'' Mr Singh sought to point out to the Chair.

''Who is denying that,'' Mr Khan said, and told him that since his notice under 241 has yet not been accepted by Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, he could not allow him.

Members from the BJP benches led by former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha rose up demanding vociferously that Mr Singh should be allowed to speak.

When Mr Singh did not sit down and again sought to remind the Chair about his right to present his case under rule 241, Mr Khan said, ''No, Mr Natwar Singh, you cannot get up. Zero Hour is not finished yet. You are a senior Member, you have a right but under a rule.'' Meanwhile, some of the BJP Members came into the well of the House shouting slogans, and there followed a counter sloganeering from the treasury benches, which the Chair ordered to be expunged from the records.

When repeated appeals of the Deputy Chairperson failed to pacify the Members, he announced adjournment of the House till 1400 hrs.

UNI NAZ PK HS1306