Ram Sethu issue results in 1-hr adjournment of LS

New Delhi, May 4: The Sethu Samudram project rocked the Lok Sabha for the second consecutive day today, resulting in an hour-long adjournment of the proceedings till 1330 hrs.

''Let the hour of disorder start,'' Speaker Somnath Chatterjee announced in the House and asked Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra (BJP) to raise the Sethu Samudram issue, marking the beginning of zero hour, and he turned out to be on the dot.

As soon as Prof Malhotra started making his point that the project was threatening the safety of Ram Sethu, Tamil Nadu members present in the House were on their legs objecting to the BJP leader's contention.

The Speaker said he had allowed the issue to be raised in the House as it was not sub judice as contended by Shipping Minister T R Baalu yesterday.

Mr Chatterjee tried to pacify the agitated Tamil Nadu members, assuring them that they would also be allowed to make their points, but it did not cut ice with them.

Mr Chatterjee then said he would have no option but to adjourn the House and this also did not work. In the meanwhile, BJP members were also on their feet in support of Prof Malhotra.

Prof Malhotra said Shipping Minister T R Baalu was instigating the MPs from Tamil Nadu to create disorder.

Sensing the mood of the members, the Speaker adjourned the House for one hour. Yesterday, the issue had resulted in a 20-minute adjournment during zero hour. The Speaker had then asked Prof Malhotra to give the points to enable him to decide whether the issue was sub judice as a related matter was pending before the Allahabad High Court.

UNI

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