By IANS,
New Delhi : Parliament was adjourned till late afternoon for the 21st successive day Friday over the opposition’s demand for a parliamentary probe into the 2G spectrum scam, even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vowed to launch a public protest over the issue.
The Lok Sabha began its proceedings with obituaries for two former members. But as soon as that was over, MPs belonging to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Left and other opposition parties rushed towards the speaker’s podium and raised slogans demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe.
Some other members stood at their seats carrying placards reading ‘We want justice’ and ‘We want JPC’. As the protests continued, Speaker Meira Kumar first adjourned the lower house till noon.
The house met again, but within a couple of minutes, it was adjourned again till 3.30 p.m., when the private members’ bills are expected to be taken up. However, the opposition is determined to stall the proceedings.
Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha, where opposition members raised slogans demanding a JPC. Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the house till 12 noon. After the upper house reassembled, opposition continued its protests forcing Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan to adjourn it till 2.30 p.m.
Haredly any legislative business has been transacted during the winter session, which began Nov 9, due to adjournments following opposition protests.
The BJP says it will persist with its demand for a JPC and take the issue to the people after the winter session ends Monday.
“We will go to the people’s court to expose the government on the issue of corruption. We are finalising our agitation strategy,” senior BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy told IANS outside parliament.
“The stubborn refusal of the government to set up a JPC will further strengthen the suspicion against the government and the prime minister in particular,” Rudy said.
“It’s the fight against corruption. Our protest is against the Congress which is running away from the truth,” said Prakash Javadekar, spokesperson of the BJP.