RS adjourned after Oppn uproar over Bofors issue

New Delhi, Apr 26: Opposition BJP and AIADMK today stalled proceedings in the Rajya Sabha in the wake of claims made by former Swedish police chief in the alleged payoffs involved in the Bofors gun deal, forcing adjournment of the House for 15 minutes.

As soon as the House met for the day, BJP and AIADMK members were on their feet alleging that the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had protected Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, who is alleged to have received payoff in the case.

Chairman Hamid Ansari said the Question Hour will not be suspended and asked members to resume their places. "Please allow Question Hour to proceed... The Question Hour cannot be suspended," he said and took up the first listed question of the day.

Opposition members, however, continued their protest with some displaying the newspaper interview given by former Swedish police chief Sten Lindstrom, who had revealed that he was the person who leaked over 350 documents to an Indian journalist in the case.

"No display of newspapers please," Ansari told the members. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was present in the House. As the din continued, he adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

PTI