Oppn demands PM's apology over N-Deal

New Delhi, Aug 16: Demanding that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apologise to the House for having ''misled'' it over the nuclear deal, the Opposition led by the BJP today created ruckus in Rajya Sabha, forcing Chairman Hamid Ansari, on his second day of conducting the proceedings, to adjourn the House for about 45 minutes.

The BJP also demanded that the Left parties clarify their stand over the deal.

As soon as the House met for the day and Chairman Hamid Ansari wanted to proceed with the questions, Ms Sushma Swaraj and Mr Murli Manohar Joshi of the BJP, along with other party members and two Samajwadi Party members, stood up and demanded the Prime Minister come in the House and give some clarifications.

They were referring to the statement by a US State department official stating that the agreement will be terminated if India carried out nuclear tests, while the Prime Minister had stated in the House that there will be no bar on the country on carrying out such tests.

The members accused the Prime Minister of having compromised with the sovereignty and dignity of the nation.

Several members later came into the well of the House and started shouting slogans, but the Chairman said that nothing would go on the record. ''Please go back to your seats. Do not come into the well. This is not the place for you,' he said.

He repeatedly appealed to them to go back to their seats. However, the members were in no mood to relent, provoking Mr Ansari to remark that their behaviour was disgraceful. Finally, the Chairman announced adjournment of the House till 1200 hrs.

UNI