The Opposition and the Treasury Benches clashed in the Rajya Sabha today over how the alleged misuse of MPLADS in relation to the videotape expose on Mayawati should be discussed. The clash led to a 10-minute adjournment of the House with Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat rushing back to calm down the irate members.BJP members — S.S. Ahluwalia, Kalraj Mishra and B.B. Singhal — sprang to Mayawati’s defence and disrupted the proceedings forcing Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptullah to adjourn House.Pandemonium broke out as soon as Kapil Sibal (Congress), initiating the discussion, said: ‘‘Mayawati, who was not the UP chief executive in 2001, had said Parliament should not be allowed to function unless strict action is taken against the Tehelka accused and the persons involved are arrested.’’Congress leader Manmohan Singh said the ruling party should object only if Sibal says something which is unparliamentary. He even urged Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to restraint her party members. With the uproar getting out of hand, Congress’ Suresh Pachauri threatened his party will not take part in Tuesday’s Question Hour if Sibal is not allowed to speak. Finally, Shekhawat had to take the Chair to allow the discussion to proceed. Admonishing the BJP members, he said: ‘‘Aap Tehelka ki baat se darte kyun hain. Bolne dijye unko (Why do you get scared with the mention of Tehelka? Let them have their say).’’Sibal said there was no need to file an FIR against the statement made by Mayawati in the tape and action could be taken otherwise as it tantamounts to ‘‘criminal offence.’’ Stating it was an issue of public funds misuse, he said the CBI should immediately arrest the person who made such a statement.Mishra said since the tape showed Mayawati as asking her party members that she would not allow MPLADS fund from her constituency to be misused, this clearly showed the speech was ‘‘conflicting and edited.’’ He demanded an inquiry into the matter. CPI(M) members also demanded an inquiry into charges of withdrawal of Rs 1 crore from the contingency fund to pay for Mayawati’s birthday.
