Bangalore: Karnataka Legislative Assembly today (Jun 17, 2004) witnessed a spate of adjournments following an uproar by the Opposition which staged a dharna demanding a joint house committee probe into the scam involving export of rice and wheat meant for drought-affected people.

The entire Opposition extended their dharna launched towards the end of proceedings yesterday (Jun 16, 2004) for the second day today and turned down Government's offer of an inquiry by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Accusing the Opposition of stalling the business of the house and calling their dharna as "tactics to gain publicity", Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the Government was willing to entrust the probe to PAC but ruled out an inquiry by the house committee.

After Opposition parties refused the offer, Siddarmaiah charged that they were not keen on punishing the culprits but were eyeing only publicity.

Earlier, Chief Minister N Dharam Singh appealed to the Opposition to help restore order in the house and asserted that Government had nothing to hide and the guilty would be brought to book mercilessly.

When Opposition members engaged in slogan shouting, Minister for Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs M P Prakash expressed displeasure and said their behaviour not in good taste.

With neither side relenting from their stands, Speaker Krishna who adjourned the house thrice, later adjourned it for the day.