By IANS,
New Delhi : The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice Monday with irate opposition members demanding that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh make a statement on a report that the government had tapped phones of politicians.
Trouble erupted soon after the house assembled with Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) MPs protesting the phone tapping issue.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prithviraj Chavan said the government would make a statement after the question hour but this did not satisfy the opposition.
Unable to restore order, Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the house till noon.
The protest led by BJP members, who were joined by Left and Samajwadi Party members, continued when the house reassembled at noon with demands that the prime minister make a statement.
Deputy chairman K. Rahman Khan said that the government was prepared to make a statement, but this did not satisfy the opposition.
“How can the government make a statement without hearing us?” asked BJP’s M. Venkaiah Naidu.
Failing to restore order, Khan adjourned the house till 12.30 p.m.