Uproar over leakage, both Houses adjourned briefly Monday, August 7 2006 16:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -
New Delhi:
The issue of leakage of the Pathak Committee report led to an opposition uproar in Parliament today leading to brief adjournment of both the Houses, minutes after they assembled for the day.
Trouble began from the word go in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha with agitated opposition members storming the well demanding resignation and an apology from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, holding him responsible for the leak of the report that indicted former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and his son Jagat.
Natwar, a member of the Rajya Sabha, who had given privilege notice against the Prime Minister over the leak, kept silent but opposition members led by BJP's Yashwant Sinha demanded that the issue be taken up immediately.
He was supported by members of Samajwadi Party,Telugu Desam and AIADMK, which was resisted by Congress members that led to noisy scenes.
In between, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury got up to reply to a starred question by B K Hariprasad but nothing was heard in the din.
With his appeals for calm falling on deaf ears, Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat adjourned the House till 1200 hrs when the breach of privilege issue would again come up.