Laloo denies making Paswan slur in public

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad said: ‘‘The Minister has clarified. With this, the chapter comes to a close.’’

To which leader of the opposition L.K. Advani said, ‘‘we don’t want a clarification from any minister’’ but a clarification from the Prime Minister. Advani said Azad’s response implied that he was not going to convey their demand to the PM. He asked the Speaker to ask the minister ‘‘to consult the PM’’ on this count. Thereafter, he led the Opposition members out of the House.

Earlier, Prabhunath Singh told the Speaker that he had said yesterday that the PM would make a statement on the issue. At this Pawan Kumar Bansal of Congress contended that the Speaker had not given any such assurance.

When BJP deputy leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra started speaking in support of Singh, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said their ‘‘observations have been recorded’’, and that it was for the Government to respond.

Advani pointed out that the PM had called both Laloo and Paswan and talked to them. Obviously, he considered the matter ‘‘serious.’’ ‘‘What is the situation today’’, he asked.

This sparked off protests by RJD members. Amidst the uproar, Laloo put forth his view. Through with the walk-out, Opposition members soon returned to the House shouting slogans.