R S adjourned twice on West Bengal violence issue

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice after uproar in the House when a Trinamool Congress MP raised the issue of violence in West Bengal.

There were strong protests from the Communist members when Mr Dinesh Trivedi tried to raise an alarm in the House about ''state sponsored terrorism'' unleashed in West Bengal to quell the rally of his party chief Mamata Banerjee. ''Nobody is safe, whether woman or man and democracy is being slaughtered as the administration has let loose violence against protestors,'' he alleged, evoking strong verbal protests from Ms Brinda Karat (CPM) and other members.

Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat refused permission to Mr Trivedi to raise the issue and questioned the basis for raising the matter in the House. Mr Trivedi said he had received phone calls about a conspiracy to attack Ms Banerjee.

The Chair said he had directed Home Minister Shivraj Patil to look into the issue and could not go beyond.

Mr Trivedi, backed by BJP members, insisted that the government assure his party protection.

The Chair, which was adamant that the House function, however, was compelled to adjourn the Chamber for 15 minutes.

When the House, there was no improvement in the situation and Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House till 1400 hrs.

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