Oppo forces RS adjournment over PM's statement

New Delhi, Dec 11: The Opposition today created a ruckus in the Rajya Sabha demanding apology from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over his statement regarding claim of minorities and deprived sections over the resources of the country made at the NDC meeting on Saturday.

Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekahwat had to announce adjournment of the House till 1130 hrs.

As soon as the House assembled for the day, leader of the Opposition in the House Jaswant Singh and other senior BJP leaders including Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Murli Manohar Joshi, Venkaiah Naidu and Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi stood up and demanded that the Question Hour be suspended to discuss the Prime Minister's statement which, they alleged, amounted to creating a division in the country.

The Chair said he will not allow the Question Hour to be suspended as no prior notice had been given for that, adding that he was wiling to have a discussion over the matter after questions were over.

However, this did not satisfiy the Opposition Members and they kept on vociferously expressing their demands. Some of them later trooped into the well of the House.

The Opposition members had earlier created a ruckus in the House forcing the adjournment till 1130 hrs over the same issue. The Prime Minister had made a statement regarding claim of minorities and deprived sections over the resources of the country made at the NDC meeting on Saturday.

The Speaker insisted that he would allow the issue to be raised only after the question hour.

However, this did not satisfiy the Opposition Members and they kept on vociferously expressing their demands. The Speaker had to adjourn the House following the din.

UNI

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