BJP members force RS adjournment over Baalu issue

New Delhi, Apr 25 (UNI) Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members today created a ruckus in the Rajya Sabha over the alleged misuse of position by Shipping and Transport Minister T R Baalu to benefit companies associated with his family, forcing adjournment of the House for 20 minutes.

As soon as the Zero Hour began at 1200 hrs and Home Minister Shivraj Patil was asked by Prof P J Kurien, who was in the Chair, to make a statement on Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad of the BJP rose up waiving some documents and demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh clarify the government's position on ths issue. Mr Baalu had admitted that he used his position to ask GAIL to provide gas to companies in which his family had stakes.

Prof Kurien asked him to resume his seat and let the Home Minister make his statement, but Mr Prasad persisted with his demand.

The BJP member was soon joined by other colleagues from his party, including Ms Sushma Swaraj and Arun Shourie, who urged the Chair to allow the issue to be raised as the whole house was agitated over it.

MORE UNI NAZ RR BD1255