Godhra derails House proceedings

Godhra returned to haunt Parliament today as the BJP and Shiv Sena stalled business in both houses over Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav...

Godhra returned to haunt Parliament today as the BJP and Shiv Sena stalled business in both houses over Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav8217;s decision to hold a fresh inquiry into the train carnage.

The RJD launched counter-slogans as protesters stormed the well in the Lok Sabha. BJP and Sena MPs raised slogans against the government8217;s decision for a fresh probe. 8216;8216;Aatankwaad ko samarthan dena band karo, Laloo hatao, desh bachao,8217;8217; they shouted as they trooped out of their seats. RJD members and a few others followed suit, stopped short of the boundary and raised slogans against the saffron combine. 8216;8216;Phoot gaya, phoot gaya, RSS ka bhanda phoot gaya the RSS has been exposed,8217;8217; they shouted in reply. The Railway Minister himself encouraged them on, directing them to take on the Opposition.

Trouble began as soon as the House met this morning when BJP leader V.K. Malhotra said Laloo had made a 8216;8216;highly provocative8217;8217; statement in his reply to the discussion on the railway budget by ordering fresh inquiry when the matter is already under investigation.

MPs lined up at the well, shouting slogans as Speaker Somnath Chatterjee tried to call order. Asking the cameras to remain operational, Chatterjee said: 8216;8216;Let the country see how you are behaving in Parliament.8217;8217; In the Rajya Sabha, BJP members demanded the suspension of Question Hour and a clarification from PM Manmohan Singh on the decision to hold a fresh probe. Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat offered to allow BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi to speak but his efforts went in vain.

Outside Parliament, Joshi said Laloo8217;s decision was legally questionable as an inquiry commission is already on the job and the issue is pending in court under the SC8217;s supervision. Laloo, however, argued that he is acting under a statutory obligation. 8216;8216;This the probe is mandatory as per the Railway Safety Act,8217;8217; he said.