By IANS
New Delhi : Opposition demands for constituting a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on the India-US civilian nuclear deal stalled proceedings in the Lok Sabha Monday, forcing the adjournment of the house till 12 noon.
The opposition raised the demand as soon as the house met and in the din, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi was heard saying that the government could not form a JPC to discuss a bilateral agreement as the constitution did not provide for this.
V.K. Malhotra, deputy leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the house, countered that the opposition would not allow the house to function unless the JPC was constituted.
Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, as also Dasmunsi, reminded members that a discussion on the nuclear deal was listed later in the day and that they could participate in this and raise their concerns.
The opposition, however, continued with its protests, forcing the speaker to adjourn the house for an hour.