rediff.com: Houses in turmoil as Jethmalani goes on offensive

Both Houses of Parliament were Thursday thrown into turmoil over the Ram Jethmalani issue and adjourned for the day after the Opposition stalled proceedings, demanding an explanation from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on charges levelled by the former law minister against the chief justice and attorney general.

While the Rajya Sabha was adjourned more than two hours ahead of schedule amid an Opposition demand for prosecution of Jethmalani, the Lok Sabha witnessed pandemonium twice and was finally adjourned for the day immediately after it reassembled at 1600 hours.

Lok Sabha members urged Speaker G M C Balayogi to direct Vajpayee to come to the House to clarify the matter, with several Congress and Republican Party of India members trooping into the well, demanding the prime minister's presence.

In the din, Trinamul Congress members were heard demanding President's rule in West Bengal in the wake of Thursday's clashes in Birbhum district, in which 11 people were killed.

The speaker adjourned the House after repeated appeals to the members to restore order failed.

Jethmalani had sharply attacked Attorney General Soli J Sorabjee and the chief justice of India while making serious allegations against the law officer.

Releasing a 17-page statement, which he had intended to read out in the Rajya Sabha explaining his resignation from the Union Cabinet, Jethmalani gave details of his highly strained relationship with Sorabjee and "conflict" with Chief Justice A S Anand.

The former minister released the statement after Rajya Sabha Chairman Krishna Kant asked him to modify his statement following opposition from members that he was seeking to make public confidential and secret documents. He did not release any of those letters at the press conference.

The former minister alleged that Sorabjee had tendered advice to the Hindujas, accused in the Bofors case, even when the Central Bureau of Investigation was investigating them and also charged him with "pliancy" in advising the government to issue a notification transferring Jayalalitha's cases to special courts.

"The attorney general has a lot to explain on how he decided to give his opinion to a party (Hindujas) who has serious conflict of interest with the Union of India, which he represents," he said.

He also accused the attorney general of charging the government hefty amounts for giving advice on the telecom policy, against rules.


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