Rajya Sabha adjourned till 1200 hrs on PM's remarks on minorities

New Delhi, Dec 11 (UNI) Stung by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's reported remarks regarding claim of minorities and deprived sections over the resources of the country, a stubborn NDA opposition disrupted the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, forcing adjournment of the House twice till 1200 hrs.

The House was first adjourned till 1130 hrs, and within minutes of reassembling, the Chair again had to suspend the proceedings till 1200 hrs as the Opposition gave a short shrift to the pleas of Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan to allow the Question Hour to resume.

As soon as the House sat for the day, the opposition created a ruckus, demanding apology from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over his statement made at the National Development Council (NDC) meeting on Saturday.

Yesterday, the PMO had sought to trash the opposition allegation, saying what Dr Singh had meant was that while better off sections of the society would benefit from good performance of the economy, it was the responsibility of the government to pay special attention to marginalised and weaker sections.

Leader of the Opposition in the House Jaswant Singh and other senior BJP leaders, including Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Murli Manohar Joshi and 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.

Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekahwat said he would not allow the Question Hour to be suspended as no prior notice had been given for it.

He said he was willing to have a discussion over the matter after the Question Hour was over.

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

With his repeated pleas falling on deaf ears, Mr Shekhawat adjourned the House till 1130 hrs.

When the House reassembled, Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan cajoled with the Opposition to allow the Questions to be taken up. However, the opposition members once again trooped into the well of the House, shouting slogans, and demanded that the Prime Minister make a statement.

An exasperated Chair then adjourned the House till 1200 hrs.

UNI SKS/NAZ MSJ DB1205