Members spar in LS on Sethu Samudram project

New Delhi, May 3: The Lok Sabha was adjourned for 20 minutes till 1230 hrs today as DMK and NDA members had heated exchanges on the Sethu Samudram project.

As soon as question hour was over, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee asked Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra to raise the issue for which the BJP leader had given notice.

No sooner had Prof Malhotra begun making his point that Ram Setu was facing destruction due to the ongoing Sethu Samudram project, Shipping Minister T R Baalu raised objection stating that the issue was pending before Allahabad High Court and as such it was sub judice and could not be raised in the House.

Members of the DMK, Congress and other Tamil Nadu parties were also on their feet in support of Mr Baalu. Shortly, BJP members and a few MPs from other parties of the opposition NDA trooped into the well, seeking that Prof Malhotra be allowed to raise the issue.

Prof Malhotra maintained that the points he wanted to raise did not fall within the purview of the case pending before the court.

As din continued to prevail, the Speaker asked the BJP leader to send the points to him to enable him to decide whether the issue was sub judice and adjourned the House.

Even after the House had reassembled at 1230 hrs, there were utter confusion for about five minutes as Prof Malhotra and Mr Baalu got into an argument on the issue again, with their respective supporting members also raising a chorus.

The House was, however, able to take up consideration of the Finance Bill after the Speaker asked Prof Malhotra to give notice again for raising the issue tomorrow.

UNI