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Journalism of Courage
The Opposition NDA and the Third Front on Wednesday stalled proceedings in Parliament protesting the formation of a UPA-Left committee on the Indo-US nuclear deal, leading to repeated adjournments of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Terming the move as an “insult” to Parliament and the nation, slogan-shouting Opposition members belonging to BJP, Shiv Sena and the Third Front insisted on their demand for formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to go into the issue.
The demand has already been turned down by the Government.
In the Lok Sabha, BJP and its allies chanted “we want JPC” with Deputy Leader of the Opposition V K Malhotra taking exception to formation of the Committee.
“It is an insult to the House and the nation,” Malhotra said adding the action was not proper.
Speaker Somnath Chatterjee pleaded in vain with agitated members to allow Question Hour. He said he would give them an opportunity to raise the issue later.
With the members unrelenting, he adjourned the House till 1130 hrs. When the House met again, similar scenes were witnessed forcing adjournment of the House till 1500 hours.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee, who is the convenor of the panel, and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi were present in the House.
Rajya Sabha saw similar protests but Chairman Hamid Ansari refused to entertain agitated members’ plea.
He went ahead with the Question Hour in the midst of commotion and nothing was audible.
