Uproar over the killing of five Indian soldiers on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops on Tuesday led to adjournment of Parliament till noon. Pakistani troops intruded into Indian territory and attacked Sarla post along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir late on Monday night.
As soon as Lok Sabha assembled for the day, Samajwadi Party members rushed to the Well raising the issue of attack on an Indian post by Pakistani soldiers.
Simultaneously, some Congress members, who support a ’united’ Andhra Pradesh, raised slogans seeking justice. BJP members, who did not leave their seats, also shouted slogans protesting the killing of Indian soldiers. SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and party MP Shailendra Kumar had moved an adjournment motion on the issue.
Amid pandemonium, the House could not take up Question Hour and the proceedings were adjourned till noon.
Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha where opposition members, including those from BJP, SP and BSP demanded a reply from the Prime Minister saying the killing of Indian soldiers was a “very serious” issue.
The Telangana issue also figured in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for the second day
The uproar over the attack led to an ugly spat between Naresh Agarwal (SP) and Congress member Mani Shakar Aiyar forcing Chairman Hamid Ansari to adjourn the House till noon.
Soon after Chairman Hamid Ansari read out a message congratulating junior Indian women’s hockey team for winning brozen medal in Germany, the entire opposition was up on its feet protesting the killing of Indian soldiers.
Raising the issue, Agarwal (SP) said while Indian soldiers were being killed on Pakistan border, China was not allowing India to patrol its border.Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) asked how many soldiers would be sacrificed before the government woke up.
“Government of India should be serious about security,” he said, adding his party wanted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to come and make a statement.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla said the matter was very sensitive and government took it very seriously. “We will ask Defence Minister to come and make a statement today,” he said.
“We are also concerned (about the incident),” Mr. Shukla said, adding, “This is a matter concerning defence ministry (and so) a statement will come from the Defence Minister.”
Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley said the issue had defence, security and foreign policy implications and so the minister making a statement should be prepared to take question on all the three aspects, especially foreign policy implications.
“Therefore, members feel Prime Minister should make a statement. That will be more appropriate,” he said.
Sitaram Yechuri (CPI-M) said the Minister making the statement should also be able to take questions on the issue.
When Dr. Ansari wanted Question Hour to be taken up, Mr. Agarwal said the Question Hour was not important as this issue was more important.
Mr. Shukla then said, “We have expressed concern (over the incident). This is a serious issue, a very sensitive issue.”
When Dr. Ansari asked if it was the wish of the House to dispense with the Question Hour, the treasury benches shouted “no” in chorus.
Former Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar (Cong) said there were equally serious issues concerning rise in natural gas prices listed for the Question Hour and asked SP members if they were not concerned about increase in gas prices.
To this, Mr. Agarwal made an insinuation against Mr. Aiyar which Dr. Ansari immediately expunged.
“How dare you call me that,” Mr. Aiyar said, as he charged towards Mr. Agarwal. Mr. Aiyar was, however, stopped by other members. Former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar too said Mr. Agarwal should not have made such objectionable remarks.
Sensing the mood of the members, Dr. Ansari adjourned the House till noon. After the House was adjourned, some MPs including D Raja (CPI) appeared to be telling Mr. Agarwal that his remarks against Mr. Aiyar were not Parliamentary.
