BJP targets Robert Vadra in Parliament, asks RS chairman to withdraw anarchist remark(Update:Parliament)

Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were stalled on Tuesday after the opposition, led by the BJP, objected to Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari's angry description of their behavior and responses to issues as bordering on anarchy.

The BJP, led by Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Yashwant Sinha, called on the chair to withdraw the remark, as they considered the language used by Ansari as unparliamentary.

Deputy Chairman P.J.Kurien said that he would consult with Chairman Ansari and get back to the members with a response.

Ansari's outburst came after the BJP sought a discussion on the land deals involving Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra.

An exasperated Ansari requested the opposition members to take up the issue during Question Hour, which the latter refused.

Amid the din that followed, Ansari angrily said: "Does this house wish to become a federation of anarchists? Every rule and etiquette in the book is being flouted," before adjourning the proceedings in the house.

The BJP has demanded a suspension of Question Hour and establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the deals in which Vadra is allegedly involved.

The Congress, however, issued a gag order on its members as far as the issue was concerned.

The BJP has accused the government of protecting Vadra and called for a Supreme Court monitored investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into his deals.

"There are many business schools that teach us how to make money and profit, but one highly connected person in our country has learnt the art of making hundreds of crores of rupees without going to any business school, without making any investment," said senior BJP Member of Parliament Yashwant Sinha.

Rajya Sabha chairperson Hamid Ansari refused to allow a discussion on Vadra amid loud protests by the BJP.

The government argues that Parliament can't discuss Vadra or his deals, as he is not a membersof either house, and cannot defend himself against the allegations.

BJP leaders have reportedly indicated that the Finance Minister should handle its questions.

As Congress's top managers and leaders sought the support of allies to help block the discussion, BSP leader Mayawati came out in the party chief's support.

"I think it's incorrect to hold Sonia Gandhi responsible even if Rober Vadra has done something wrong. The Congress must answer," she said.

Vadra has been linked to "sham deals" in Haryana by senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who was transferred in October last year after he sought to cancel a 58-crore land deal between Mr Vadra and real estate giant DLF.

In May, he submitted a report to the Haryana government that details his investigation against Mr Vadra and other land deals. He said that a 3.5-acre plot sold by Mr Vadra to DLF had been transacted in violation of all guidelines and that by granting a license to use the land for a commercial project, the Haryana government had gifted the Congress president's son-in-law a windfall gain.

The Congress has been facing an opposition onslaught ever since senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka alleged in a report that Robert Vadra had "falsified documents" to execute a series of "sham transactions" for the sale of 3.5 acres of land in Gurgaon to real estate giant DLF for Rs. 58 crore.

Vadra has been married to Sonia Gandhi's daughter, Priyanka, since 1997.

Khemka, who was controversially transferred by the Haryana government in October last year, three days after he cancelled the mutation of Mr Vadra's deal with DLF - handed the 100-page report to the state government in May this year, details of which have become public now.

The Haryana Government has repeatedly said that Vadra has received no preferential treatment.