SP demands resignation of Murli Deora over gas allocation

Samajwadi Party's demand for the resignation of petroleum minister Murli Deora in the backdrop of the tussle between the Ambani brothers over gas allocation created an uproar in the Lok Sabha today leading to its adjournment thrice.

It was trouble again when the House reassembled after two adjournments with SP members storming the well demanding that Deora should quit. This followed SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav alleging a Rs 50,000-crore scam in gas allocation.

As deputy speaker Karia Munda allowed Yadav to ask a question, the SP chief said Deora had ensured that "one industrialist and his industry house enjoys Rs 50,000-crore benefit" and that the minister should resign.

"He (Deora) must resign. I am demanding it. If the Leader of the house does not agree to it, then this government will lose its credibility," he said.

The issue of political violence in West Bengal also created heat when Trinamool Congress members wanted the house to take up Zero Hour instead of a special discussion on price rise. This led to a clash between them and the Left parties, which are in power in the state.

In the din, deputy leader of BJP Sushma Swaraj once again raised the issue of development board for Bundelkhand, demanding a statement from the government.

Yadav said the gas allocation would lead to a loss of Rs 1,000 crore to National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).

His demand for Deora's resignation was vociferously objected to by Congress members.

Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the SP leader's claims were untrue and added that it was a tussle between two industrialist brothers.

Following this, SP members led by Yadav staged a walk out.

Soon after, the Deputy Speaker took up discussion on rising prices. But Trinamool Congress members did not allow CPI-M leader Basudeb Acharia to speak and demanded that the house take up Zero Hour to discuss the violence in West Bengal.

With members from all parties on their feet trying to speak simultaneously, chaos prevailed for a few minutes prompting the chair to adjourn the House till 1500 hours.

Earlier in the day, the House was adjourned twice over the issues of gas allocation to Dadri project in Uttar Pradesh and the setting up of Bundelkhand development board without either Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh governments' knowledge.