Tuesday, April 19 2005 13:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Budget session of Parliament resumed on an acrimonious note today (Apr 19, 2005).

An agitated Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Opposition demanded the resignation of Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee accusing him of "political vendetta" against his predecessor George Fernandes and sought immediate withdrawal of the fresh Government affidavit on Kargil Defence purchases.

By submitting "contradictory" affidavits in the Supreme Court, the Government has made a "mockery" of the judicial system, the Opposition members charged, as they demanded withdrawal of the fresh affidavit in which CBI has been asked to probe 23 new charges against Fernandes. The first affidavit said no procedure or law was violated on the issue of the purchases.

Trooping to the Well in Lok Sabha, they raised slogans "Defence Minister resign forthwith", "we want justice" and "withdraw the false affidavit".

Fernandes quietly sat on the front row as the din continued.

Repeated pleas by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to restore order and start a full-fledged discussion on the issue failed to pacify the members, forcing him to adjourn the House for the day.

An anguished Speaker said he was giving a "public notice" that he would not adjourn the House from tomorrow (Apr 20, 2005) under such circumstances "come what may".

Similar scenes were witnessed in Rajya Sabha with Deputy Chairperson K Rehman Khan calling it a day after it was adjourned for an hour.