LS, RS adjourned on Ronen Sen's remarks

New Delhi, Aug 22: The Lok Sabha, which could not function yesterday following uproar over the remarks by Indian Ambassador to the US Ronen Sen on the opponents of the nuclear deal, was again adjourned till 1200 hrs today amid noisy scenes as the Opposition demanded action against the envoy.

As soon as the House assembled at 1100 hrs, BJP deputy leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra stood up, demanding to know what action had been taken on the privilege notice served by them yesterday on the allegedly derogatory statement by Mr Sen against members of Parliament.

He said since Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in the House it was important that the members were apprised of the action taken on the BJP's demand for recalling the Ambassador.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, however, sought time to go through what Mr Sen had said and what was reported by newspapers. But when the din continued, the Speaker quipped '' You do not want the House to run... It is your House.'' However, Mr Malhotra remained unmoved and kept standing along with several other members in the House. One member was heard saying '' Government is supporting Sen''.

After the ruckus continued for seven minutes, the Speaker stood up and appealed to the members to sit down. However, they complied momentarily before again raising uproar.

Stating that newspapers had reported certain statements of the Ambassdor, Mr Chatterjee sought time to go through them. But when one member said the issue was important, the Speaker asked if he had ever said it was an unimportant matter and added that the question hour was also important and called for the first starred question of the day.

This angered the Opposition members, including Mr Malhotra, who again stood up which led the Speaker to charge the protesting members with holding '' the whole Parliament.... the whole country to ransom. You are deliberately doing it day in and day out.'' Stating that he was appalled at their behaviour, the Speaker adjourned the House till 1200 hrs.

Besides the Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was also present throughout the ten minutes of chaotic proceedings till the adjournment.

UNI