Uproar in RS over coal blocks allocations

Rajya Sabha witnessed uproar on the opening day of second part of Budget session as members hotly debated rules for taking up a motion for adjournment of Question Hour to discuss government's alleged interference in preparing the CBI report on allocation of coal blocks.

While the Question Hour and Zero Hour were a casualty today as the House saw heated arguments on holding a discussion on alleged interference in CBI functioning on the coalgate issue and putting the motion to vote in this regard.

The House saw three adjournments before lunch with government agreeing to discuss the issue but opposition remained adamant on calling the Law Minister in the House and seeking suo motu statements from both Prime Minister Manmohan Sngh and Law Minister Ashwani Kumar on the issue.

The motion moved by V Maitreyan (AIADMK) on suspension of Question Hour for a discussion on the role of CBI in the alleged coal scam was later rendered as infructuous by Deputy Chairman P J Kurien saying the matter ended at 12 noon with the Question Hour.

"That motion has become infructuous because Question Hour is over. Whether it was voted or not voted, that issue has become infructuous at 12 O'Clock," Kurien said.

Chairman Hamid Ansari earlier admitted Maitreyan's notice for moving the motion from among the eight notices received. He had put the motion to voice vote but no division of votes could take place amid the din, as Ansari adjourned the House for 30 minutes. Earlier, too the House was adjourned for 15 minutes on the issue.

"I am asking for peace. A Motion has been moved. It is to be voted. Voting cannot take place in noise. Motion cannot be put to vote," Ansari said as members from BJP and AIADMK rushed into the Well.

While Maitreyan demanded that the Law Minister be "summoned" in the House and asked to explain his position on alleged interference in the CBI report, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley said government should make a suo motu statement on the issue if it has nothing to hide.

"The government says it has nothing to hide. Let them tell us so far what is hidden. Let them come out with a suo motu statement on the Law Minister's role at 2 PM. We will then ask clarifications and then we will take up the discussion on atrocities on women," Jaitley said.