Tuesday, April 19 2005 11:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Verbal clashes between Opposition and Treasury benches over Government's fresh affidavit in the Supreme Court on Defences purchases during the Kargil conflict today (Apr 19, 2005) stalled proceedings in both Houses of Parliament leading to their adjournment for brief periods.

Lok Sabha was adjourned for 15 minutes and Rajya Sabha till noon. Soon after obituary references to Pope John Paul II and four former members in the Lok Sabha, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee allowed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader V K Malhotra to raise the issue.

Malhotra alleged that the second affidavit, filed by the Government in the Supreme Court, was "contradictory" to the first one and the move was "immoral, illegal and unconstitutional".

He said the Congress and its president Sonia Gandhi had been levelling false charges against former Defence Minister George Fernandes since they were in the Opposition. This drew loud protests from Treasury benches.

Leader of the House and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee asserted there was "nothing contradictory" between the two affidavits and everything was done as per law of the land.

He said that the Government was ready for a full-fledged discussion on the matter "even today under whatever form or whatever manner the Opposition wanted".

As verbal exchanges between the Opposition and Treasury benches continued, the Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes.