The Hindu : National : Opposition walkout over `witch-hunt'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 08, 2004

National

National

Opposition walkout over `witch-hunt'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 7. The entire Opposition in the Lok Sabha today staged a walkout, alleging that the Central Bureau of Investigation was being misused by the United Progressive Alliance Government to carry out a witch-hunt against leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In keeping with the NDA's decision on Monday to raise contentious issues against the Government in reaction to the registration of cases in the Tehelka case, the Opposition also brought up the public spat between the two Union Ministers, Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan.

The two issues held up the proceedings in the House for half of zero hour. Bringing up the issue of registration of cases in the Tehelka issue against the former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president, Bangaru Laxman, and the then Samata Party chief, Jaya Jaitly, the Deputy Leader of the BJP in the House, V. K. Malhotra, said his party was not opposed to the development but objected to the way the CBI was being used by the Government "to further its interests." Also, he referred to the dropping of charges against the Congress Rajya Sabha member, Satish Sharma.

Having registered its protest, the BJP led the other constituents in a walkout. However,the Biju Janata Dal and the All India Trinamool Congress were reluctant to join the walkout.

The NDA members later returned, but peace was short-lived. Soon after the Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee, allowed the Janata Dal (United) member, Prabhunath Singh, to bring up the matter pertaining to two Ministers accusing each other of corruption, pandemonium broke out with the Opposition demanding a response from the Prime Minister. This was matched by slogan-shouting from the ruling benches and the proceedings were held up for about 30 minutes as the Speaker refused to adjourn the House.

It was only after Mr. Chatterjee reprimanded the members that an uneasy calm returned. And, as has been the case since the opening day of this session, the Speaker warned of action against erring members.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National