RS adjourned again as BJP MPs slam arrest of Singur-bound Rajnath

New Delhi, Dec 4 (UNI) The Rajya Sabha was adjoured for the third time today till 1400 hrs following pandemonium on the issue of of BJP President Rajnath Singh being arrested in West Bengal while on way to Singur to express solidarity with farmers protesting against the sale of land to Tata Motors.

BJP members trooped in to the well of the house shouting slogans like ''Paschim Bengal Sarkar ki goondagardi nahin challegi (West Bengal Government's criminal behaviour will not be allowed).'' Charging the West Bengal Government of adopting a ''dictatorial approach,'' they said that it was behaving more like a ''capitalist government'' which was supressing farmers.

The opposition vociferously protested against the arrest of BJP President in Kolkata and demanded that he be immediately freed. NDA constituent Trinamool Congress President Mamata Banerjee is already sitting on a fast onto death in the state capital to protest against the deal and atrocities on farmers.

Raising the issue during the zero hour, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said that the West Bengal goverment was selling fertile land to Tata Motors and harassing farmers protesting against the deal.

CPI(M) member Brinda Karat sought to explain the situation in the state and Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan said that the opposition should allow her to make a statement.

However, the BJP members, angry over the arrest of their party chief, stood up shouting slogans and trooped into the well of the house.

Despite repeated efforts, Mr Khan was not able to pacify the opposition and the uproar continued. Ultimately, he adjourned the house till 1400 hrs.

Earlier, the house was adjourned twice on the issue of atrocities on dalits in Uttar Pradesh. BJP leader M M Joshi demanded that the Government should explain the situation in view of different scenario explained by the BSP and SP on the issue.

UNI AJ Vd HT1311