New Delhi: Opposition members today (Dec 5, 2003) staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha after Speaker Manohar Joshi rejected their adjournment notices for suspension of Question Hour to discuss the Ayodhya issue.

"I have disallowed the adjournment notice for suspension of Question Hour as there is no recent occurrence," the Speaker said amidst protest from the Opposition.

Soon after the House made obituary references, G M Banatwalla (IUML) raised the issue demanding suspension of Question Hour.

He was joined by other Opposition members, as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members vociferously protested against disruption of Question Hour.

As the din continued, the Speaker rejected the notice given by Banatwalla. Basudeb Acharia (CPM) sought to know the fate of his notice on the same issue.

The Opposition said since December 6 happened to be Saturday when the House will not meet, the matter should be taken up today.

Somnath Chatterjee (CPM) said they would continue to raise the issue since "we can't think of any other issue that is festering on the nation's politics".

PTI