Din in RS, LS adjourned over Thackeray issue

NEW DELHI, JULY 25: Demanding dismissal of the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party Government in Maharashtra for spreading a reign of te...

NEW DELHI, JULY 25: Demanding dismissal of the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party Government in Maharashtra for 8220;spreading a reign of terror8221; in Mumbai over the proposed arrest of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, Sena Rajya Sabha members today clashed with Congress MPs, leading to the abrupt adjournment of the House for the day.

In the Lok Sabha, Sena members trooped into the well of the House raising slogans against the Maharashtra government, forcing Deputy Speaker P M Sayeed to adjourn the House for an hour. However, when the House met again, the members did not disrupt the proceedings as, by then, the news of the case against Thackeray being dismissed by the local court had come in. The Sena MPs instead demanded that the Congress-NCP Government resign following the verdict.

In the Upper House, Leader of Sena Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha Satish Pradhan sought to raise Thackeray issue in post-lunch session even as Congress members insisted that party colleague Suresh Pachauri be allowed to complete his submission on objections raised by Samata Party leader Jaya Jaitly over Income Tax officials visiting her residence in connection with their raid on cricketer Ajay Jadeja8217;s properties.

The entire Opposition had walked out during the pre-lunch session after Chairman Krishan Kant had deferred a discussion on the issue till tomorrow to enable him to go through records. When House re-assembled, Pachauri insisted on making a submission on Samata leader8217;s statements, though without mentioning her name.

But BJP members, led by M Venkaiah Naidu, vehemently objected to Pachauri taking up the issue, especially after Kant had ruled that the matter may be taken up tomorrow. The Congress8217;s insistence on its demand led to shouting and counter-shouting.

Amidst the din, Sena member Sanjay Nirupam was heard shouting: 8220;These chaps have gone mad. The Maharashtra government should be dismissed.8221; As heated exchanges between the ruling and Opposition members led to pandemonium for over 20 minutes, Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla adjourned House for the day.

Meanwhile, the BJP tried to drive a wedge between Maharashtra coalition partners 8212; the Congress and NCP 8212; by demanding resignation of Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Chaggan Bhujbal while going easy on Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. 8220;If the state government has any self-respect, it should pay the price by asking Home Minister to resign as entire case was the agenda of one person 8212; namely, Chhagan Bhujbal,8221; Venkaiah Naidu said today.

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He added that party8217;s stand that the case would not stand in a court of law, because of 8220;time limitation8221;, had been vindicated by the court decision. 8220;We are happy that our stand that the charge-sheet and decision to arrest Thackeray was politically motivated stands vindicated. The judicial verdict is a slap on the face of the Maharashtra Government and the state Home Minister,8221; he said.