Monday, August 29 2005 14:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The issue of Finance Minister P Chidambaram's lawyer wife Nalini appearing on behalf of Income Tax department in a court in Chennai rocked Rajya Sabha today (Aug 29, 2005) as a determined Opposition stalled the proceedings leading to two adjournments of the House.

Soon after the House assembled for the two-day extended session, Opposition members led by BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Yashwant Sinha, demanded that Chidambaram explain to the house the correct position and not issue statements through Central Board of Direct Taxes on the matter when the house was in session.

This sparked off a procedural wrangle and after 45 minutes turmoil, the house was adjourned first for about an hour till 12:45 p.m. without transaction of the listed business.

When the house reassembled Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan adjourned the proceedings till 2:00 p.m. as opposition members were unrelenting in their demand.

Swaraj said the proceedings were adjourned for an hour to enable Chidambaram to come to the House to give an explanation on the issue.

But "We do not find the Finance Minister and we want that he explains the position in the house."

"Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has spoken on the issue outside the house and it is regrettable that Chidambaram has not come to the house to explain despite the members demand," Swaraj said.

The Deputy Chairman repeatedly pleaded for order in the House saying that Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekahwat was considering a notice given by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Khazhagam (AIADMK) member N Jothi to discuss the matter and until a decision was taken, the house should carry on with other listed business.

The plea went unheeded as the Opposition kept pressing for an immediate clarification from the Finance Minister and the House was adjourned for the second time.

Earlier Yashwant Sinha said as Finance Minister during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime, he had given an explanation to the House on a issue that had nothing to do with his official work.

Likewise, Chidambaram should also explain how his wife Nalini appeared in a Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) case when he is the Finance Minister, he said citing the precedent.

Shekhawat said he had no objection to Jothi raising the issue but it should be done so after giving proper notice.

The Chairman adjourned that House as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members rushed towards the Well.