The controversy surrounding Veer Savarkar disrupted proceeding of both Houses today with the Shiv Sena and BJP demanding an apology from the Government and Petroleum Minister Mani Shanker Aiyar for reportedly ordering the removal of the plaque of Savarkar from Cellular Jail in Port Blair.The Opposition forced the LS to adjourn twice and then walked out in protest, not satisfied with the Government’s explanation that views expressed by Aiyar on Savarkar were ‘‘personal’’. Reading from a brief given by Aiyar, Leader of the House in Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee said that as the ‘‘Swatantra Jyoti is an eternal flame commemorating the Freedom Movement, it is only appropriate that Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation, be remembered on the plinth on which the flame rests. This was done at my (Aiyar's) instance.’’‘‘Neither at the official function nor in the press conference that followed, did I refer to Veer Savarkar,’’ Aiyar was quoted by Mukherjee.Shiv Sena’s Anant Geete, however, demanded an apology which led to protests from the ruling party benches. In Rajya Sabha, there was pandemonium when Sena MP Sanjay Nirupam, wanted to know who had ordered the removal of Savarkar’s plaque, but soon the discussion spiralled down to a disorderly row.45 pc power lost to theft: SayeedNEW DELHI: Power Minister P.M. Sayeed on Wednesday said the power sector was being handicapped by the ‘‘menace of power theft’’. The country lost 45 per cent of the total power generated to thefts, he said at a special discussion on power shortage in Lok Sabha.
