RS adjourned briefly on Parliament security issue

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) The Upper House was today briefly adjourned after BJP members took umbrage to the admonishment of party colleague S S Ahluwalia by Home Minister Shivraj Patil after he was interrupted while replying in a discussion on the internal security situation.

Deputy Chairman Rehman Khan, who was in the chair, adjourned the Rajya Sabha for half-an-hour after his attempts to pacify the BJP members, who entered the well of the House in protest, fell on deaf ears.

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 saying that television channels were beaming news about the discovery of a bomb in Parliament.

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.

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