Din in Parliament over Farooq's statement on release of LeT chief

NEW DELHI: The last day of the Monsoon session of Parliament was marred by adjournments in both Houses over National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's reported statement of release of a LeT terrorist by the NDA government.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned four times and the Lok Sabha once as the issue rocked both the Houses.

Soon after laying on the table listed papers in Rajya Sabha, Congress members waving newspaper copies said the report quoted Abdullah as saying that the decision to release terrorist Maulana Masood Azhar during the Kandahar hijacking was taken by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani.

This sparked acrimonious scenes as Congress members, led by Rajiv Shukla and V Narayanasamy who had given a notice, wanted the Chair to take up the issue.

With Congress members vociferously pressing for their demand, Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat adjourned the House for half-an-hour till 12.30 pm, within minutes after the Question Hour.

When the House reassembled, it was adjourned till 2.00 pm only to be adjourned again to 2.30 pm.

When the House met again, Congress members were on their feet demanding a clarification from Abdullah who was present in the House.

The Chairman disallowed the demand and ordered taking up of Private Members' Business.  At one time, Abdullah indicated his willingness to speak and even stood up. As the din continued, Shekhawat adjourned the House till 5.00 pm.