Nuclear deal rocks Lok Sabha, House adjourned till 1500 hrs

New Delhi, Sep 5 (UNI) The India-US nuclear deal rocked the Lok Sabha once again today with the BJP-led Opposition forcing two adjournments, the second one till 1500 hrs, over the setting up of a panel by the Government to look into the concerns of the Left about the pact.

''We want JPC (to go into the deal),'' the NDA members shouted as they stalled the Question Hour.

''How can such a panel be announced outside of Parliament. This is an insult to Parliament,'' BJP Deputy leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra said immediately after the House met for the day and Speaker Somnath Chatterjee congratulated the IRSO for the successful launch of INSAT-4CR and paid respect to late President S Radhakrishnan on his birth anniversary, celebrated as Teacher's Day.

Mr Malhotra said he had given a notice for the suspension of the Question Hour to discuss the issue, but Mr Chatterjee said he would allow them to raise the matter only after 1200 hrs as some important questions relating to children and power projects were on the agenda.

When Mr Chatterjee's repeated pleas to the Opposition members to resume their seats went unheeded, he adjourned the House for 20 minutes till 1130 hrs.

After the House re-assembled, Mr Prabhunath Singh (JD-U) said the issue had to be discussed first in the House.

At this, all Opposition members were on their feet, demanding a JPC. When the pandemonium continued for five minutes, the Speaker adjourned the House till 1500 hrs.

UNI