Lok Sabha work stalled; Opposition demand JPC on N-deal

New Delhi, Sep 10 (UNI) The India-US nuclear deal once again rocked the Lok Sabha today with the BJP-led Opposition stalling the Question Hour, reiterating their demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to go into the nuclear pact.

As soon as the House met and homage was paid to victims of September 7 road accident in Rajasthan and yesterday's bridge collapse in Hyderabad, the Opposition members were on their feet, calling for the suspension of the Question Hour to discuss the nuclear issue.

BJP Deputy Leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra and JD (U) leader Prabhunath Singh said they had already given notices in this regard, but the Government did not want to debate the issue.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee pleaded to the Opposition to allow the Question Hour to be taken up, but to no avail. He said there were many important matters listed on the agenda.

Mr Singh said he understood that price rise and farmers' problem were important matters, but he had given a notice for the suspension of the Question Hour to discuss the demand for the JPC.

He said the Government was not interested, prompting Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi to state that nothing was being done to undermine the role of the Opposition as defined in the Constitution. It was, in fact, the Opposition stalling the proceedings.

At this, Mr Malhotra and other NDA members stood on their feet, but what the BJP Deputy leader said could not be heard in the din.

Amid the pandemonium, the Speaker adjourned the House till 1200 hrs within five minutes of its meeting.

UNI