Uproar in Rajya Sabha over AgustaWestland

The Rajya Sabha witnessed an uproar on Wednesday as BJP member Subramanian Swamy named Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the AgustaWestland scam, prompting Congress members to urge the chair to expunge the name.

Swamy had barely raised the issue in the house when protests erupted, as he named the Congress leader.

"It is touching to see leader of opposition relying on Mr. Michel for what he said orally but the high court of Italy have recorded a letter written by Mr Michelle stating that Sonia Gandhi is the main...," Swamy said, prompting a massive uproar from the Congress, forcing a brief adjournment.

When the house reassembled after around 10 minutes, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said Swamy should not name a member from the other house and expunged the name from the records.

"You know that the name of member of the other house should not be taken here. A member's name who cannot come and defend here should not be taken," he said.

Even as the deputy chairman asked Swamy to continue, Congress members kept creating a ruckus.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Abbas Naqvi said it is a violation of the member's rights.

Congress members trooped near the chairman's podium raising slogans, after which the house was adjourned till 12 noon.

--IANS

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