Lankan issue rocks LOK SABHA , RAJYA SABHA

Lankan issue rocks LOK SABHA , RAJYA SABHA

PEACE:WAY FORWARD

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[Image: A lorry carrying fruits and vegetables from Indian-administered Kashmir begins crossing over to Pakistan-administered Kashmir at the peace bridge in Chakoti Line of Control, about 60km (37 miles) south of Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistani Kashmir, October 21, 2008. Trucks loaded with apples, onions and nuts crossed the frontier in divided Kashmir for the first time in decades on Tuesday as nuclear-armed India and Pakistan opened a trade link aimed at easing tension. ] reuters

Lankan issue rocks LS, RS

(October 21, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned till noon within minutes of assembling today following uproarious scenes over the issues of plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka, Indo-US civilian nuclear deal and attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra.

When Lok Sabha met for the day, DMK, a key partner in the UPA Government, raised the issue of plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka while members of other opposition parties, including NDA and Left, were also on their feet raising separate issues.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said he has got five notices for suspension of Question Hour and requested all the members to speak one at a time but his plea went unheeded.

‘You have put me in this chair (of Speaker), I don’t want to be here,’ he said. As the din continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till afternoon.

Rajya Sabha witnessed similar scenes where DMK members brought banners which read ‘Save the Tamils’ and ‘Stop Genocide in Sri Lanka’ while the Left MPs claimed the nation’s autonomy had been ‘mortgaged’ in the nuclear deal with the US.

Sharad Yadav (JD-U) wanted to the raise the issue of attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra. Some members of the BJP also supported him. Chairman Hamid Ansari repeatedly requested for order in the House. He asked members to raise the issue during Zero Hour and suggested that they could have a structured debate.

But disruptions continued. Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said there were provisions of raising the issue during Question Hour. ‘We are exercising our option under the rules.’ Eight minutes into the commotion, Ansari adjourned the House till noon. - Sri Lanka Guardian