Rajya Sabha adjourned till 1400 hrs on PM's remarks on minorities

New Delhi, Dec 11 (UNI) The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the third time today till 1400 hrs with the opposition demanding an ''apology and explanation'' from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over his remarks that minorities and deprived sections have first claim over the resources of the country.

As soon as the house reassembled at 1200 hrs, the NDA members disrupted the Zero Hour, shouting slogans and rushing into the well of the house to demand that the Prime Minister should come into the house and explain his remarks made in the National Development Council meeting on Saturday.

Charging the Prime Minister of trying to divide the country on communal lines, the opposition members demanded an apology from him.

However, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan asked the ministers to lay down the papers in the house. Ministers Sushilkumar Shinde, Shish Ram Ola, A R Antulay, Kapil Sibal, Renuka Chowdhary and Subodh Kant Sahay laid papers concerning their ministries in the house. Ms Nirmla Deshpande (nominated) laid the paper regarding empowerment of women while RJD leader Ramdeo Singh Bhandary also laid his paper, but nothing could be heard in the din.

Despite repeated directions from the Deputy Chairman, the opposition members continued with their slogan shouting, forcing Mr Khan to adjourn the proceedings of the house till 1400 hrs.

Earlier, 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 to allow the Question Hour to resume.

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