NDA, SP disrupt LS proceedings on Bofors

New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) The Lok Sabha was today adjourned for an hour on the Bofors issue, ahead of the presentation of the Railway Budget for 2007-08 by Minister Lalu Prasad.

As soon as the house assembled, the BJP-led Opposition and the Samajwadi Party members rushed to the well of the house demanding resignation of the government for allegedly protecting Bofors accused Ottavio Quattrocchi, detained on February 6 in Argentina by the Interpol.

They shouted slogans "Quattrocchi is a thief", "Congress is the beneficiary of the Bofors gun deal" and waved printed leaflets with the photographs of Quattrocchi.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi were in the treasury benches at the time of the pandemonium.

Speaker Somanath Chatterjee tried to pacify the agitated opposition benches, but they remained in the well disrupting the proceedings.

When the house reassembles at 1200 hrs, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad will present the Railway budget for 2007-08.

UNI