Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day on nuclear issue

New Delhi, Aug 16 (UNI) The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day after a determined, slogan-shouting opposition made a shrill demand that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apologise to the nation for having allegedly misled the House on the 123 civil nuclear agreement with the US.

As soon as the House -- which was adjourned earlier for about 45 minutes during the Question Hour -- reassembled at 1200 hrs, agitated Samajwadi Party and AIADMK members trooped into the well of the House, seeking an apology from the Prime Minister for having misled the House on the controversial nuclear deal.

The BJP-led NDA members joined the chorus of protests by venting their spleen and demanded the Prime Minister's resignation on the issue.

All attempts by Chairman Hamid Ansari to bring discipline in the House proved abortive as the members continued to chant slogans, blaming the government for making the country's national interests an appendage to the US' national concern.

In the continued din, members laid on the table of the House the papers and reports listed against their names.

When all the cajoling by the Chairman failed to pacify the opposition members, he adjourned the House for the day.

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