Lalu mum over opposition to bifurcation of Palakkad Division

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) An otherwise effervescent Railway Minister Lalu Prasad chose to keep silent today, when MPs from Kerala created an uproar in the Lok Sabha over Railway Ministry's ''unilateral'' announcement on bifurcation of the Palakkad Division in Kerala to set up a new division at Salem in Tamil Nadu.

As soon as the House assembled for the day, Kerala MPs were on their feet protesting against the move to bifurcate the Palakkad division. Some of them also waved placards.

After about ten minutes' uproar, Mr Prasad entered the House but did not say anything on the issue.

Amid the din, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee was forced to adjourn the proceedings for half an hour.

Indian Federal Democratic Party (IFDP) member P C Thomas was later forced to withdraw from the Lower House under the threat of suspension when he kept on speaking on the issue despite having been repeatedly asked by the Speaker not to do so.

Mr Chatterjee described Mr Thomas' behaviour as ''abominable and disgusting,'' and even threatened suspension at one point when the MP kept on speaking even after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi personally persuaded him to sit down.

The MPs alleged that the announcement was in total violation of the Railway Minister's assurance to the Lok Sabha that any decision on the issue would be taken only through consultations between the Chief Ministers of the two states.

Mr N N Krishnadas (CPI-M), raising the issue during Zero Hour, said a Kerala delegation had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, besides Mr Prasad, several times to protest against the bifurcation proposal.

Despite all this, an announcement had been made on the inauguration of the Salem Division on September 14 and this would take away a ''major portion'' from the Palakkad Division, he said.

All the MPs from Kerala also wanted to voice their concern, but the Speaker asked them to give notice for a structured discussion which would force the Railway Minister to give his reply.

UNI