Tuesday, August 23 2005 13:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Amidst uproarious scenes over BJP's demand for recall of Bihar Governor Buta Singh and sacking of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Rajya Sabha was today (Aug 23, 2005) adjourned for 30 minutes till 12:00 noon.

Trouble broke out as soon as the House met for the day with BJP member S S Ahluwalia, supported by party colleague Ravi Shankar Prasad, raising the issue of RJD chief Lalu Prasad reported claims that the Bihar Governor was his nominee.

Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat repeatedly tried to prevent the agitated members from disrupting the Question Hour but BJP members rushed to the aisle and then moved towards the Well, from where they shouted slogans.

Despite the Chair ruling that nothing would go on record, the Opposition members kept chanting anti-Lalu and anti-Bihar Governor slogans, because of which the replies to a couple of questions could not be heard.

Citing rules, Shekhawat repeatedly pleaded that since the Opposition members had not given in writing the demand for suspension of the Question Hour, he could not allow them to raise the issue.

However, he said, he could give them permission after the Question Hour. But, a determined BJP-led Opposition NDA kept raising slogans for nearly thirty minutes, forcing the Chair to adjourn the Upper House till 12:00 noon.