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Parliament paralysed for eighth day on coal block issue

The eighth consecutive day of Parliament was lost today to the uproar created by BJP over coal block allocations, raising the prospect of washout of the remaining part of Monsoon Session which ends on September 7.

Uproarious scenes were witnessed in the Lok Sabha and theRajya Sabha like in the last seven days with the CAG report on the coal blockallocation issue creating turmoil with BJP paralysing the proceedings bypressing for resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

In the Rajya Sabha, BJP members refused to take part in theHouse proceedings shouting slogans and vehemently refusing to read out theirSpecial Mentions. However, N K Singh, a member of NDA ally JD-U, laid itseeking urgent measures to address the problem of declining growth rate ofexport.

As soon as the two Houses reassembled after the firstadjournment till noon, opposition members were on their feet shouting sloganslike "Koyla Dalalon Ki Sarkar Nahin Chalegi (we will not allow governmentrun by coal brokers)". They were countered by Congress members.

In the Rajya Sabha, Renuka Chowdhary led the Congress chargeand shouted back at the BJP saying "sit down or go out" while herother colleagues chanted "BJP ki gundagardi nahin chalegi (BJP'shooliganism won't be allowed).

A short notice question, which was listed, could not betaken up as the BJP member who was supposed to ask it declined to do so and nosupplementary was asked by any other member.

Soon BJP members trooped into the Well in both Houses whilethose from AIADMK as well as the CPI-M were standing.

As the slogan shouting continued, both Houses were adjournedfor the day.

In the Rajya Sabha, K N Balagopal and P Rajeeve (both CPI-M)demanded cancellation of the coal blocks.

When the Lok Sabha met for the day, BJP members trooped intothe Well raising slogans against the Prime Minister for allegedly extending"undue benefits" to private parties to the tune of Rs 1.86 lakh crorewhile allocating coal blocks.

UPA members launched a counter-offensive raising slogans infavour of Singh and waved the 'List of Business' at the agitating BJP-ledopposition members.

P Lingam (CPI) was seen holding a placard 'We wantParliament to Function'.

As members continued their protests, Speaker Meira Kumaradjourned the House till noon.

In the Rajya Sabha, the moment Chairman Hamid Ansari took upthe Question Hour, BJP members rushed to the Well demanding the PrimeMinister's resignation.

Minister of State for Railways Bharatsinh Solanki's reply toa supplementary raised by Saif-ud-din Doz (Cong) could not be heard in din.

As BJP members did not relent, Ansari adjourned the Housetill noon.

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Sonia asks Cong to "stand up and fight aggressively"

Accusing BJP of making "political bread and butter" by holding Parliament to ransom by "blackmail", a combative Congress President Sonia Gandhi today took the battle to the opposition camp and asked the party to "stand up and fight aggressively".

PTI
Published Aug 28, 2012, 9:57 AM IST
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Rallying the party behind Prime Minister Manmohan Singh onthe coal block allocation issue, she accused BJP of acting with "wantonirresponsibility"."We will not be deflected by the intemperate Congressbashing by the opposition. Let us stand up and fight. Fight with a sense ofpurpose and fight aggressively. We have many achievements. We have nothing tofeel defensive about," Gandhi said.Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) here, sheprefaced the remarks by flagging…

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