BJP sticks to 'quit PM' demand, parliament adjourned again

Both houses of parliament were adjourned Monday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) persisted with its demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over coal block allocation. 

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till 12 noon soon after they met as the BJP raised slogans demanding the prime minister's resignation.

In the Rajya Sabha, members paid tributes to Chowdhary Ram Sevak, a former member, who has passed away. Chairman Hamid Ansari later complimented the Indian cricket team for winning the under-19 World Cup.

Soon after he took questions, BJP members were up on their feet demanding that Manmohan Singh quit over the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) report on coal block allocation. 

The chairman urged the members not to interrupt proceedings during the question hour. 

“I am afraid this is an infringement of the right of members,” he said. 

As the din continued, he adjourned the house till noon. Similar scenes were witnessed in the Lok Sabha too, forcing Speaker Meira Kumar to adjourn the house till noon. The prime minister is expected to make a statement in parliament on coal block allocation and the government has said that the BJP should allow him to speak. 

The BJP had forced adjournments of the two houses on the issue last week also.