Coal scam: Parliament deadlocked for 3rd day

Parliament remained deadlocked for the third consecutive day on Thursday with main opposition BJP unrelenting on its demand for resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the CAG report on coal block allocation.

It was the repeat of scenes in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha as witnessed during the last three days, with opposition members shouting slogans and storming the well to press their demand, which has been rejected by the government.

AIADMK members joined BJP in the demand in both the Houses. In Lok Sabha, a number of AIADMK members also joined them in the well.

Interestingly in the Rajya Sabha, JD(U) member Sabir Ali, whose party has been favouring a debate on the issue instead of disruptions, also trooped into the well with BJP members and shouted slogans.

He had yesterday told reporters outside Parliament that the issue should be discussed in Parliament as public money is involved in the running of the House.

Other members of JD(U) — NK Singh and Shivanand Tiwari — remained seated when the BJP members raised slogans like "Yeh jo Congress ke chehre pe laali hai, Koyale ki dalali hai (The glow on the face of Congress is because of brokership in coal block allocation)."

Members from the treasury benches sought to counter the opposition's slogan of 'Pradhan Mantri Istifa Do (Prime Minister Resign)' by shouting Pradhan Mantri Zindabad (Hail the Prime Minister).

The Rajya Sabha witnessed three adjournments till 2pm, while there were two adjournments in the Lok Sabha.

It was trouble as soon as the two Houses met for the day.

In the Lok Sabha, BJP members rushed to the well to demand the Prime Minister's resignation.

Countering the opposition offensive, Congress members were seen in the aisles waving copies of newspapers and raising slogans against the BJP. They displayed newspaper reports which said some state governments headed by BJP in 2005 had opposed auction of coal blocks, saying it would hit the industry.

The House plunged into turmoil as members of opposition and treasury benches clashed, with Congress members insisting that it was the BJP which had opposed auction of coal blocks and was now blaming the Centre for it.

Interestingly, members of JD(U), a key constituent of the BJP-led NDA, did not join the BJP members in the Well. The BJP has been on the offensive in demanding Singh's resignation, while the JD(U) has been pressing for a debate.

Amid din, Speaker Meira Kumar called for the Question Hour, but adjourned the House till noon.

When the House re-assembled at noon, members from BJP and AIADMK trooped into the well raising slogans.

SK Bwiswmuthiary (independent member from Kokrajhar) was also in the well raising the problems of Bodo refugees living in transit camps of Assam.

Francisco Sardinha, who was in the chair, adjourned the House till 2pm after ordering laying of papers.

The Rajya Sabha also witnessed ruckus the moment Chairman Hamid Ansari took up the first listed business.