Union Defence Minister George Fernandes was in for a surprise when he found that he was allowed to speak without any interruption in the Rajya Sabha today. Fernandes was answering a question by Gen (retd.) Shankar Roychoudhari, an Independent member from West Bengal.The calm disposition of Congress MPs was in stark contrast to the party’s almost hysteric reaction in the Lok Sabha when Fernandes rose to make a statement on Jammu’s violence, just a day ago. However, Congress leaders swear the party’s stand on Fernandes has not changed. Kapil Sibal, party spokesman said: ‘‘there is no change in our stand. Today’s incident is being projected differently and these are red-herrings.’’
