BJP disrupts move to take up Lokpal debate in LS

Amid demands from Team Anna, a move to take up a discussion today in the Lok Sabha on the Lokpal issue turned contentious with the BJP-led NDA opposing the debate under a rule which does not entail voting, forcing adjournment of the House for an hour.

As the Deputy Speaker, Mr Kariya Munda, declared that the House will take up the debate under Rule 193 (short duration discussion), BJP members were on their feet protesting the move demanding that it should be done under a rule which provides for voting.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, as also the Telecom Minister, Mr Kapil Sibal, sought to counter them by asking what was BJP’s stand.

“It is the BJP’s duplicity. You say something inside and something outside,” said Mr Bansal, asking the Opposition party whether it was not wanting a discussion on the Lokpal issue.

In the din, several members of the BJP, Shiv Sena and JD-U stormed the well. They were not pacified despite the Deputy Speaker telling the House that the Speaker had intimated earlier about a supplementary business being taken up in the afternoon.

BJP member, Mr Anurag Thakur, who was among those who stormed the well was seen tearing up the order paper listing the supplementary business.

The din prompted the Deputy Speaker to adjourn the House for an hour. The BJP members continued to protest in spite of the adjournment with Mr Kirti Azad heard remarking that the Government had earlier promised a debate under a rule which entails voting but has suddenly turned it into a general discussion.

After the adjournment, Mr Bansal told reporters that the discussion on Lokpal issue seemed unlikely today and may be taken up tomorrow.

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