The entire opposition today got together and disrupted proceedings in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha over the government's decision to raise prices of petrol and diesel, forcing two adjournments till 2 PM.
Trouble started soon after the two Houses met for the day after a four-day break, with the opposition members demanding rollback of the price increase announced in the general Budget presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on February 26.
The Opposition benches shouted slogans demanding rollback of the Rs 2.71 a litre hike in petrol price and Rs 2.55 per litre increase in diesel rates.
In the Lok Sabha, members of NDA, SP and RJD trooped into the Well to press their demand.
In view of the uproar, both the Houses were first adjourned till 1200 hours soon after they met. Similar scenes were seen when the Houses re-convened at noon, leading to their adjournments till 2 PM.
In the Rajya Sabha, the opposition members took exception to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's assertion while returning from Saudi Arabia on Monday that there will be no rollback, contending that it was a breach of privilege as he had made the statement outside Parliament though the House was in session.
"Instead of answering in the House, the Prime Minister chose mid-air to reject the demand (about rollback) made by the nation," Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley said.
He was supported by Left members, with CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat saying the Prime Minister's statement had created a "lot of confusion".