Members from the BJP, Left, AIADMK, JD(U) and SP did not allow Question Hour and legislative business in the House, shouting slogans and seeking response from PM Manmohan Singh over the controversy.
A united opposition in the Rajya Sabha today sought to corner the government over allegations of telephone tapping of ministers and senior political leaders, stalling proceedings of the Upper House.
Members from the BJP, Left, AIADMK, JD(U) and Samajwadi Party (SP) did not allow Question Hour and legislative business in the House, shouting slogans and seeking response from prime minister Manmohan Singh over the controversy.
When the House met at 1230 pm after two adjournments, home minister P Chidambaram read out a statement, amidst din by opposition, saying the allegations of telephone tapping are not found to be substantiated.
The main opposition BJP demanded a probe by the Joint Parliamentary Committee into the allegations and shouted slogans.
However, members of BSP, which appears to be with the government over opposition sponsored cut motions on the Finance Bill, remained seated.
Judging the unrelenting mood of the opposition parties, deputy chairman K Rehman Khan, adjourned the House for the day
after it witnessed uproar for a few minutes.
The BJP, which gave a notice for suspension of Question Hour, began to protest immediately after nominated member B
Jayashree took oath when the House met for the day.
Chairman Hamid Ansari said the government would make a statement and pleaded with the opposition parties to allow the Question Hour to proceed. However, he was forced to adjourn the proceedings till noon.
Similar scenes of protests were seen when the House reassembled. Senior BJP leader M Venkiah Naidu said prime minister Manmohan Singh should make a statement as the issue is very serious.
"Telephones of cabinet ministers, chief ministers and political leaders are being tapped...What is happening to the country," he said.
After the House saw stalling of proceedings twice till 12.30pm, deputy chairman adjourned it for the day.
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