Wednesday, July 26 2006 14:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The opposition stalled proceedings in the Rajya Sabha Wednesday, twice forcing its adjournment, to express anger over Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee's refusal to give an "instant reaction" to concerns voiced over Pakistan's nuclear programme and his subsequent exit from the house.

"It is not the practice to give instant reactions on an issue like this. It can't be like instant coffee... instant reaction to such an issue," a visibly incensed Mukherjee retorted when the issue was raised during zero hour.

The Washington Post had reported that Pakistan was building a powerful reactor that could generate plutonium for 40 to 50 nuclear bombs a year.

Mukherjee's remark provoked an immediate protest from MPs from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other opposition parties, who stormed to the speaker's podium demanding a proper reply.

Amid the ruckus, Mukherjee abruptly left the house. BJP members then demanded he be summoned to the house, caling his absence an "insult" to its dignity.

"What do they think of themselves? This is an insult to parliament," shouted some of the BJP members, including S.S. Ahluwalia and Rudra Narain Pani, gesturing toward the treasury benches.

When Deputy Chairperson K. Rahman Khan expressed his helplessness in summoning Mukherjee, the BJP MPs then turned towards him and said the minister's absence was an "insult" to the chair.

Sitram Yechury of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) attempted to broker peace, fuelling indications that Home Minister Shivraj Patil would make a statement on the subject.

This, however, did not satisfy the BJP members, who continued with their "Summon Mukherjee!" slogans.

With his repeated pleas to restore order falling on deaf ears, Khan adjourned the house till 12.45 p.m. But the uproar continued when it reassembled, forcing him to adjourn it again till 2 p.m.

Earlier, raising the issue of Pakistan's nuclear programme, Digvijay Singh of the Janata Dal-United wanted to know if the government was aware of the threat it posed.

BJP's Murli Manohar Joshi lamented that on the one hand India-US ties were improving, but on the other there was no pressure from Washington on Islamabad to halt its nuclear programme.

"The US says it is aware of what Pakistan is up to. What steps are being taken on this? There is a possibility of nuclear terrorism. What is being done to stop this?" asked Joshi, a former human resource development minister.