Opp walks out over Laloo-Paswan

The Opposition8217;s protest on the Laloo-versus-Paswan issue appeared to be losing steam, with NDA MPs raising it in a token manner in the Lok Sabha and staging a half-hearted walk-out today.

Even before the last of the stragglers had reached the door, others trooped back to the House, prompting an amused member to ask BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra: 8216;8216;Aap aa rahe hain ya ja rahen hain are you going out or coming in?8217;8217; Before the half-minute walk-out, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said he had received privilege notices from four Opposition MPs 8212; P.C. Thomas, Sushil Modi, V.K. Malhotra and Prabhunath Singh 8212; against Union Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav for denying that he had made any statement against LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan. 8216;8216;The matter is under my consideration,8217;8217; the Speaker said.

Briefing reporters later, Malhotra said newspaper clippings on the RJD leader8217;s statements charging Paswan with corruption had been attached to the privilege notice. Television clips were also being collected to prove that the Railway Minister was 8216;8216;misleading8217;8217; the House by saying he had never made any statement against Paswan.

The Opposition would continue to demand a statement from the PM on the issue, BJP leaders said. But with both ministers having furnished their personal explanation, a statement from the PM seems unlikely. Differences within NDA 8212; JDU leader Nitish Kumar is reportedly unhappy with the NDA leadership for highlighting the Laloo-Paswan spat 8212; may also tone down the protests next week.