Lok Sabha adjourned till noon over nuclear issue

New Delhi, Sep 7 (UNI) The BJP-led Opposition today forced the adjournment of the Lok Sabha till 1200 hrs for the third day running over the India-US nuclear deal.

As soon as the House met for the day and obituary was paid to former member Tarkeshwari Sinha, BJP Deputy leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra was on his feet, demanding suspension of the Question Hour to discuss the issue.

Supporting Mr Malhotra, other BJP members trooped into the well, raising slogans, ''Yeh tanashahi nahin chalegi (No dictatorship)'', ''Desh ke saath gaddari nahin chalegi (Down with betrayers)''.

Other NDA members were also on their feet raising slogans against the Government, prompting members of the Left and the Congress to counter them verbally.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee pleaded to the Opposition in vain to let the Question Hour begin.

''It's a great sorrow that the House is being held to ransom.

Today is Friday and some important matters are on the agenda. The debate on the issue is on Monday. Please allow the House to function,'' he said.

Amid the din, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi stood up to say that the Opposition members were making noises only because they did not want to face the dabate.

This further infuriated the NDA members who raised slogans with gusto.

Unable to restore order, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon within five minutes of its meeting.

UNI