Monday, April 25 2005 12:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Chargesheeting of Railway Minister Laloo Prasad in the fodder scam rocked Rajya Sabha today (Apr 25, 2005) as an unrelenting opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) pressed for his resignation leading to adjournment of the House till 14:00 hrs (IST).

Soon after the House assembled for the day, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members vociferously raised the issue stalling the Question Hour.

They were vehemently countered by ruling benches who demanded the dismissal of the Narendra Modi Government in Gujarat for "failure" to provide security to Laloo when he visited the rail accident site near Godhra.

Amidst uproarious scenes, the House was adjourned for 45 minutes barely 15 minutes after it met for the day. It reassembled at noon only to be adjourned again till 14:00 hrs (IST).

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) members, led by Ramdeo Bhandary, sprang to their feet even before the Opposition members demanded their leader Laloo Prasad's dismissal.

Bhandary was joined by Kum Kum Rai, Vijay Singh Yadav and Mangni Lal Mandal in demanding dismissal of the Narendra Modi Government in Gujarat and arrest of the Chief Minister in view of the attack on the Railway Minister.

The RJD members were supported by their Congress counterparts in countering the Opposition protest.

BJP members including S S Ahluwalia, Ramashankar Prasad, M A Naqvi and Yashwant Sinha all through raised slogans against the Railway Minister leading to noisy scenes in the House.

Shekhawat tried to pacify both sides pleading with them to raise the matter after the Question Hour but his repeated requests went unheeded.