Tuesday, August 23 2005 12:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Lok Sabha was today (Aug 23, 2005) adjourned till 2:00 p.m. amidst heated exchanges between Treasury and the Opposition benches with the latter demanding removal of Bihar Governor Buta Singh.

As the House assembled, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader V K Malhotra, supported by his party colleagues and members of the Janata Dal- United (JD-U) and Shiv Sena, sought the removal of the Bihar Governor alleging that he had "interfered" in the functioning of the Railway Ministry.

As Malhotra further alleged that Railway Minister Lalu Prasad had claimed that Buta Singh was his appointee, there was a furore in the House with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) members charging the BJP leader with "misleading" it. Heated exchanges followed between both sides.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, while attempting to restore order, said the Governor's role cannot be discussed in this manner in the House. "You give a substantive motion and I shall consider it," he said. But heated exchanges between the two sides continued.

As the Speaker allowed JD (U) leader Prabhunath Singh to speak, he alleged that the Bihar Governor was acting at the behest of the RJD chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad.

While JD (U) MP demanded recall of Buta Singh and the removal of Lalu Prasad from the Union Cabinet, RJD leader Devendra Prasad Yadav quoted the rules to say that the Governor's role cannot be discussed in the House as per the notices given by the Opposition for suspension of Question Hour and adjournment of proceedings.

Ram Gopal Yadav (Samajwadi Party) suggested to the Speaker that the House be adjourned to meet at 2:00 p.m. to pass the crucial National Rural Employment Gurantee Bill. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad supported the suggestion and the Speaker adjourned the House till 2:00 p.m.