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Social activist Anna Hazare's fast on the issue of Lokpal cast its shadow on Parliament on Tuesday, with both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessing opposition uproar over widespread corruption as revealed by several scams.
As soon as the two Houses met, Bharatiya Janata Party members pressed for suspension of the Question Hour to discuss the serious situation caused by lakhs of people in the country coming out on the streets to protest against corruption.
Amid noisy scenes, both the Houses were adjourned till noon. In the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj said she has given notice for suspension of Question Hour, claiming that the government cannot wash its hands off the protests which were culmination of "corruption resorted to by the government".
"Scams after scams are being revealed ... the Adarsh society followed by 2G, Commonwealth Games, Air India and now the KG Basin. People are facing the brunt of price rise and ministers are looting crores. People are saying crores are stashed away in foreign banks and there are no funds to build village roads and gutters in the urban areas," she said.
"At such a time, the Lokpal being envisaged in the Bill brought out by the government has neither teeth nor eyes. It is totally ineffective," Swaraj said.
The story was no different in the Rajya Sabha, where a united opposition led by BJP created uproar demanding suspension of Question Hour to discuss corruption and the Lokpal Bill, leading to adjournment of the House till noon.
Hardly had Chairman Hamid Ansari taken his seat, BJP Deputy Leader S S Ahluwalia demanded the discussion. He was joined by his party colleagues and members from other opposition parties including Left, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Janata Dal-United and Bahujan Samaj Party.
The pleas of Ansari in the Rajya Sabha and Speaker Meira Kumar in the Lok Sabha cut no ice and both the Houses were adjourned till noon.
In the Lok Sabha, as soon as the Speaker took up the first listed question, Opposition members were on their feet demanding suspension of Question Hour and discussion on corruption.
The Speaker said there was no rule that allows suspension of the Question Hour. However, as a special case she would allow leaders of parties to put forth their views on corruption and take up the Question Hour thereafter.
She then called Swaraj to speak. As Swaraj made references to several scams allegedly involving some Union ministers, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal objected to it contending that the Leader of the Opposition was speaking on a matter which was beyond the ambit of the notice.
Bansal suggested that if the members were keen, the Speaker can have a discussion on corruption under Rule 193. In the melee, SP members were heard raising the issue of shortage of fertilisers faced by farmers in Uttar Pradesh.
As the din continued, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings till noon.