While Rajya Sabha was adjourned following disruptions Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee did not allow the issue to be raised in the House,  saying that proper notice was required for taking it up.

In the Upper House the BJP-led opposition demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should come to the House with a response to letters purportedly written by the PMO asking the Petroleum Ministry to expedite the release of gas to the companies owned by Baalu’s family.

Raising slogans, they disrupted both the pre-lunch and post-lunch proceedings leading to two adjournments before recess. he din continued as the House re-assembled after lunch and P J Kurien, who was at the chair at that time, adjourned it for the day after passage of the Central Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2008. The bill was passed amidst pandemonium with very few members taking part. The trouble began after the Question Hour as senior BJP member Ravi Shanker Prasad was on his feet, seeking to raise the issue. Joined by his party colleagues and AIADMK members, Prasad waved copies of letters which he said were written by the PMO. When Kurien disallowed him from the raising the issue as Home Minister Shivraj Patil was to make a statement on Jammu and Kashmir, commotion ensued, causing the House to be adjourned for 15 minutes. When the House reassembled, the vociferous opposition persisted with its demand leading to Kurien adjourning for the day.

Clarify, says BJP

Addressing a press conference here  Prasad said the PM should give a statement clarifying the issue.

He denied that the BJP was raking up the issue in view of the DMK parting company with the NDA. Taking another view of the issue, he said it is more so surprising that despite the PMO shooting off eight letters, the Ministry did not “expedite” the work. “It only goes on to show how ineffective the PMO has been rendered to,” he said.