Parliament was today rocked by reports of an alleged coal scam to the tune of Rs 10.7 lakh crore with the Opposition forcing adjournment of both the Houses till noon.
As soon as the Lok Sabha met for the day, JD-U members were on their feet demanding immediate discussion on a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the allocation of 155 coal acreages between 2004 and 2009 to some 100 companies.
The moment Speaker, Ms Meira Kumar, called for Question Hour, the BJP and JD-U members trooped into the well raising slogans against the Government.
“Yeh Sarkar Kaali Hai (This Government has been tarnished)” the Opposition members chanted in the Well.
With members unrelenting, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon.
Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha where Mr Prakash Javadekar (BJP) said he had given notice for suspension of Question Hour to discuss the alleged scam.
“Sorry, the Question Hour cannot be suspended,” Chairman, Mr Hamid Ansari, said.
“You cannot raise the issue without the permission of the Chair,” the Minister of State in PMO, Mr V. Narayanasamy, said.
As members continued to raise the issue and waved copies of a newspaper, Mr Ansari said members cannot raise “unsubstantiated matters”.
“No newspapers are allowed. You cannot display banners. Please sit down. You cannot raise matters in this manner. You can raise it later, this is not the time,” he told the agitating members.
The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, was present in the Rajya Sabha. Mr Javadekar said the Prime Minister was in charge of the coal portfolio when the alleged scam took place.
Amid the din, Mr Ansari adjourned the Rajya Sabha for 15 minutes.
When the House met again, similar scenes were repeated and the proceedings were adjourned till noon.