Ahluwalia peeved at electronic media's scramble for breaking news

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) BJP leader S S Ahluwalia today upbraided the electronic media for its ''irresponsible'' reporting in a scramble for 'breaking news', saying the channels' reports on the planting of a bomb in Parliament Annexe were far removed from the facts.

''The entire country had become panicky after television channels started beaming news about the discovery of a bomb in Parliament,'' said Mr Ahluwalia, whose verbal jousting with Home Minister Shivraj Patil on the issue led to the Rajya Sabha being temporarily adjourned.

He said there must be some guidelines to restrain the electronic media from breaking news without verifying the entire facts.

''The entire world has seen on TV sets that there nothing in the unclaimed bag while TV channels had already jumped to the conclusion that it was carrying a bomb,'' he added.

The Upper House was briefly adjourned after BJP members took umbrage to the admonishment of Mr Ahluwalia by Home Minister Shivraj Patil after he was interrupted while replying in a discussion on the internal security situation.

The trouble erupted when the Home Minister, who was in the midst of his speech on steps taken to improve the internal security, was interrupted by an insistent Mr Ahluwalia demanding a clarification on the security of Parliament House annexe.

When the minister said the Parliament's security did not fall within his portfolio, the member persisted. Mr Ahluwalia refused to budge from the issue and demanded to know who was responsible for the safety of the premises.

On being told that it was the Speaker, the House was assured that the Additional Security officer had been asked to report on the matter.

Even after the House was informed by the officer despatched to the scene that it was a routine security drill, a few members demanded that the matter be taken seriously since the entire world was watching the events unfold on television.

As the Minister rose to continue his speech, Mr Ahluwalia said the Rajya Sabha Secretary General should summon a press conference to dismiss the story as unfounded.

Tempers flared on the BJP benches when the minister admonished Mr Ahluwalia to show responsibility as a Parliamentarian, and several party colleagues rushed into the well.

Despite the Speaker's assurance that nothing would go on record, the Opposition members refused to resume their seats, forcing the brief adjournment.

When the House ressembled after half-an-hour adjournment, Mr Ahluwalia said he did not have any bitterness towards the Home Minister. ''Had I been given correct information, the bitterness could have been avoided. I aleays try to respect other's feelings.'' The BJP leader also said he raised the issue only because the House was in the midst of a discussion on the internal security scenario.

Mr Patil reciprocated by saying that he had always enjoyed camaraderie with Mr Ahluwalia. ''Our relations will always be friendly. We know each other well, and there is no rancour follwoing the event.'' UNI SKS SD RP VC1855