Lok Sabha adjourned till 1530 hours on Fernandes issue

New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) The Lok Sabha was adjourned twice following protests by members of the ruling alliance over NDA convener and former Defence Minister George Fernandes' statement yesterday in which he had made derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The House was adjourned for one hour till 1345 hours, and again till 1530 within minutes after it reassembled.

The UPA members were up in protest as soon as Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi took exception to Mr Fernandes remarks, foricing the adjournment of the House till 1345 hours.

As soon as it reassembled, the members from the Treasury Benches were again on their feet and advanced towards the well, protesting against the remarks. They also demanded that Mr Fernandes be suspended from the House.

Ms Krishna Tirath, who was in the chair, made repeated pleas to them to go back to their seat so that she could take agenda listed for the day.

But the Congress were unwilling to oblige and she adjourned the House till 1530 hours, observing that this was not the way to run the House.

Earlier, Mr Dasmunsi said Mr Fernandes had issued a press statement yesterday, observing that if a Chinese leader had done something similar to the Indo-US nuclear deal he would have been shot in the head.

Editors here pick up from earlier series.

UNI