Tuesday, August 9 2005 13:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Nanavati Commission report on 1984 anti-Sikh riots today (August 9, 2005) rocked Parliament as BJP and Akali Dal members made a vociferous demand for action against those involved in the violence, leading to adjournment of both Houses for the day.

Hardly had the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha met this morning, agitated NDA members, mostly belonging to BJP and Akali Dal, sprang to their feet and charged the Congress-led UPA Government with trying to protect their leaders.

Waving newspapers carrying stories with regard to Nanavati Commission findings which were tabled in Parliament yesterday (August 8, 2005), the members trooped into the well in both the Houses and chanted slogans demanding action against those guilty.

In the din, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee adjourned the House for the day, barely five minutes after it assembled this morning.

The Rajya Sabha, which also witnessed similar scenes, was adjourned first during the Question Hour and then for the entire day.

As soon as the Lok Sabha assembled for the day, the NDA members, led by BJP's V K Malhotra, raised the issue.

They charged the Congress-led UPA with trying to save their leaders who, the members alleged, were responsible for the riots. This triggered strong reaction from Congress benches.

Amidst the uproar, BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal and other NDA members trooped into the well forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day, within minutes after it met.

Matter of concern for all

The NDA members continued to shout slogans even after the Speaker asked Malhotra to raise the issue saying "it is a matter of concern for all sections of the House."

The slogan-shouting Opposition members alleged that each and every page of the Nanavati report had blamed the Congress for engineering the riots.

The Congress members shouted back charging the BJP with launching a pogramme against minorities in Gujarat.

In the Rajya Sabha, the matter was raised by BJP leader Sushma Swaraj who said going by the Nanavati Commission report, it seemed the entire Congress party was involved in the riots which left 3,000 Sikhs dead.

The Opposition members, led by Raj Mohinder Singh Majitha (Akali Dal), then moved into the well demanding action against the guilty.

When BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said a notice had been given for suspension of the Question Hour, Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat said he had not received it.

The Chairman told the agitated members that he was prepared for a discussion on the Nanavati report today itself if the members so desired.

As the Opposition was unrelenting, Shekhawat adjourned the House till 1200 hours.

When the House reassembled, similar scenes were witnessed as BJP and Akali Dal members again stormed the well, flaunting newspapers and shouting slogans.

After the Chair's repeated pleas to them to go back to their seats went unheeded, the House was adjourned for the day.