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LS adjourned again as BJP takes firm stand

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party members blocked the proceedings in the Lok Sabha, defied the chair and prevented Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav from raising the RSS issue.

Agitated ruling party members including Madan Lal Khurana and Rajiv Pratap Rudy were on their feet questioning the decision of Telugu Desam Party leader K Yerran Naidu, who was in the chair, to call Yadav to speak as soon as the House reassembled after the lunch recess.

The House was adjourned twice earlier in the day when the Opposition demanded a discussion on Bihar Governor Vinod Chandra Pande's decision to invite the National Democratic Front to form a government in the state.

Yerran Naidu tried to pacify the ruling party members saying that he would call Khurana after Mulayam completes his speech.

The ruling party members said that they apprehended the Opposition would block the proceedings soon after Yadav completes his speech. They demanded a guarantee from the Opposition that they would not disrupt the House.

Naidu pleaded with them for over 20 minutes saying in a democracy the Opposition should be given the first chance. At one point it looked as if the ruling party members had relented.

But when Yadav commenced his speech with a sharp attack on the RSS for its role in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, ruling party members shouted slogans and Naidu was left with no option but to adjourn the House for the day.

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