Friday, December 2 2005 12:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha was adjourned till noon today (Dec 02, 2005) after agitated Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members demanded lodging of an FIR against those involved in the pay-offs of Iraqi oil-for-food programme and arrest of Union Minister Natwar Singh following fresh reports of his alleged involvement in it.

No sooner than the House assembled the BJP leader Sushma Swaraj and Leader of the Opposition Jaswant Singh demanded that the Prime Minister should clarify on the matter before taking up the list of business.

"The Prime Minister is also the Leader of the House, he has given a clean certificate to Natwar Singh," Jaswant Singh said even as Union Minister Suresh Pachauri countered that no such certificate was given.

Pachauri said that the PM had been quick to appoint a probe into the entire gamut of the matter.

Swaraj said since Finance Minister P Chidambaram had assured the House that if the Inquiry Authority had found involvement of anyone, the government would file an FIR.

"The proof is there and the FIR should be lodged," she said.

The pandemonium broke out in the wake of fresh reports quoting the Indian envoy to Croatia Anil Mathrani alleging that Natwar Singh had gone to Iraq in 2000 and had accepted the coupons for purchase of oil.

Mathrani was part of that delegation.

When the House assembled at noon, BJP members led by Sushma Swaraj and Murli Manohar Joshi were up on their feet demanding immediate statement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh disrupting the proceedings of the House.

At one point of time, vociferous BJP Members took the name of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, sparking off vehement protests from Congress Members.

As acrimonious scenes were witnessed and with Members in no mood to relent to the plea of Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat for order, the House was adjourned till 1430 hours.

In the melee, the Minister of State for Parliament Affairs, Suresh Pachouri was heard saying the Prime Minister was willing to make a statement in the afternoon and that the government had nothing to hide on the matter.

Pachauri said that the PM had been quick to appoint a probe into the entire gamut of the matter.

Swaraj said since Finance Minister P Chidambaram had assured the House that if the Inquiry Authority had found involvement of anyone, the government would file an FIR.

"The proof is there and the FIR should be lodged," she said.

The pandemonium broke out in the wake of fresh reports quoting the Indian envoy to Croatia Anil Mathrani alleging that Natwar Singh had gone to Iraq in 2001 and had accepted the coupons for purchase of oil. Mathrani was part of that delegation.