Thursday, November 24 2005 15:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha was today (Nov 24, 2005) adjourned for 45 minutes following noisy scenes and slogan shouting by the Opposition over the Volcker Committee report which named Congress and former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh as beneficiaries of Iraqi oil pay-offs.

As soon as the House assembled, Leader of the Opposition in the House Jaswant Singh raised the matter and sought immediate discussion on it after suspending the Question Hour.

Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's refusal to suspend the Question Hour triggered protests from the Opposition benches, leading to the adjournment of the House hardly 15 minutes after it met for the day.

Jaswant Singh also demanded a CBI probe into the matter so that everything became clear.

However, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri said since the Opposition had not given any notice for suspension of the Question Hour, the matter could be taken up later in any manner and under any rule that the Chair considered appropriate.

When Shekhawat observed that the Opposition had indeed not submitted any notice for suspension of the Question Hour, the Congress benches thumped their desks much to the chagrin of the Opposition members.

The Chair's remark that he would take a decision later on admissibility of their request for discussion led to a fresh spate of demand from the Opposition benches for suspension of the Question Hour.