Price rise issue rocks Parliament

The opposition and the Left parties on Tuesday stepped up pressure on the government in Parliament on the issue of spiralling prices on the opening day of the second part of the Budget session, forcing adjournment of the two Houses for the day.

Though the government was ready for a discussion on the issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Left and the United National Progressive Alliance members paralysed proceedings in the two Houses giving vent to their anger on inflation which has touched a three year high of 7.41 per cent.

It was trouble from the word go in the Lok Sabha on the issue, while in the Rajya Sabha protests erupted after the new members were sworn in.

All hell broke loose in the Lower House as soon as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh introduced his new Council of Ministers.

Several members of the Samajwadi Party and few of the BJP stormed the well protesting against the spiralling food and fuel prices.

They chanted slogans like "Joh sarkar nikaami hai, woh sarkar badalni hai (we have to change the incompetent government)."

Members from the BJP as also its allies in the National Democratic Alliance and from the Left were also up on their feet on the issue.

In the Upper House, the opposition and the Left members began protests after 50 newly elected members took oath.

"Price rise is the only question today," senior BJP member Murli Manohar Joshi said.

Earlier, the Left and UNPA members staged a dharna on the issue on Parliament premises after marching from Mavlankar Hall near the Parliament House.

"We will protest on the streets against rising inflation till April 23 along with UNPA leaders to pin down the government on inflation," Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters.

As the Lok Sabha reassembled at 1130 hours after the first adjournment, there was uproar again on the issue.

Amid the din, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee read out a message from President Pratibha Patil acknowledging the members' 'Motion of Thanks' for her address to the joint sitting on February 25.

The speaker tried in vain to pacify the members and also warned them of "proper action" if they failed to take their seats, but finally adjourned the House for the day.

In the Rajya Sabha, the troubled started soon after the new members took oath. Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the House for 10 minutes at the fag end of the Question Hour.

When the House reassembled, the prime minister introduced his new Council of Ministers.

But when the Chair wanted to take up other listed business, the members from BJP, Left and UNPA stood up to raise the issue and started shouting slogans.

Sensing the mood of the House, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan adjourned the House for the day after the papers were laid.