PM to make statement on WikiLeaks in Parliament

With the Opposition uproar over the WikiLeaks revelation on 'cash-for-vote' scam continuing to stall Parliament for the second day, Government announced that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will make a statement this afternoon.

"The Prime Minister will make a statement in Lok Sabha at 2 PM," Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal said in the House, seeking to pacify an angry opposition demanding a clarification from the Prime Minister.

Bansal's announcement, however, did not satisfy the slogan-shouting opposition members, prompting Speaker Meira Kumar to adjourn the House for the second time till 2 PM.

The 2008 'cash-for-votes' scam yesterday returned to haunt the UPA with a united Opposition in Parliament demanding resignation of the Prime Minister in view of fresh charges that bribe was paid during the trust vote.

Citing correspondence between the US Embassy and its government revealed by the Wikileaks, the Opposition parties created uproar in both Houses of Parliament, saying the appearance of the media reports had "shamed" the country and it showed the "murder of democracy".

In the melee, the Speaker allowed Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath to move for consideration a bill seeking to extend special provisions for the National Capital Territory of Delhi for a further period of three years up to December 31 this year.

The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Bill 2011 was passed by a voice vote without debate and amidst slogan-shouting.

Earlier, the Speaker informed the House that she had received a message from President Pratibha Patil acknowledging the expression of thanks from members of the Lower House on her joint address.

"I have received the expression of thanks by the members of the Lok Sabha for the Address which I delivered to both Houses of the Parliament assembled together on 21 February, 2011," Kumar said, reading out the message from Patil.