Scams rock Houses for second day

The Opposition led by the BJP demanded a Joint-Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G scam, Adarsh Housing Society scam and the alleged corruption in Commonwealth Games-related projects.  However, the government, while rejecting demands for a JPC probe, made it clear that any decision on the issue could be taken only after the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is discussed in Parliament.

Both Houses of Parliament also witnessed Congress members clashing with their BJP counterparts on the alleged defamatory remarks made by former RSS chief  K S Sudarshan  against Congress President Sonia Gandhi.  Parliament will now meet on Monday, as Friday has been declared a holiday for the MPs for the Chhath festival.

The BJP members raised slogans against Raja as soon as Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar took her seat. They were joined by AIADMK and Shiv Sena members. Some of the CPM leaders later raised slogans from their seats.

Meanwhile, the Congress made a sharp response, shouting slogans against  Sudarshan’s alleged anti-Sonia Gandhi remarks following which Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the House till 12 pm and thereafter  for the day.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha as well with Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari being unable to calm down the members. Talking to reporters here, senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu later said: “The government should know what they did. They boycotted George Fernandes (over scams during the Kargil War). It’s up to the government as to how they want Parliament to function. They want an inquiry of their own. The government doesn’t want a JPC.”

Congress spokesperson Satyavrat Chaturvedi defended the government saying the issue should be left to the prime minister and the leadership. “Let’s leave it to the Prime Minister and the leadership.”

On the RSS leader’s reported provocative comments against Sonia, Congress spokesman Janardhan Dwedi said the civil society should react to Sudarshan’s impolite remarks. He said “a befitting response should be given”. He criticised the RSS leader for talking about “personal matters” of an individual.