By IANS,
New Delhi : A move in the Lok Sabha to discuss different versions of the Lokpal bill, as demanded by Anna Hazare, Friday turned contentious after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) protested the debate under a rule that did not entail voting, forcing an adjournment of the house for an hour.
Deputy Speaker Karia Munda took up notices issued by Congress MPs under Rule 193 for a short duration discussion, but BJP MPs were on their toes protesting the debate under the rule that did not entail voting and demanded that it be taken up under a rule under which voting is required.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and Communications Minister Kapil Sibal sought to counter the BJP, asking them to clear their stand on the Lokpal issue.
“It is BJP’s duplicity. You say something inside and something else outside,” said Bansal, asking the opposition party if it was sincere in wanting a debate on the Lokpal issue.
Several BJP, Shiv Sena and Janata Dal-United members trooped close to the speaker’s podium and began raising slogans. Despite Munda’s repeated pleas to them to return to their seats, the bedlam continued.
Munda told the house that Speaker Meira Kumar had intimated earlier about a supplementary business being taken up in the afternoon sitting.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur, who was among those to troop close to the speaker’s podium, was seen tearing up the order listing the supplementary business.
The pandemonium prompted the deputy speaker to adjourn the house for an hour.