Row over Soren warrant

Both Houses of Parliament were rocked by the fact that Union Coal Minister Shibu Soren had an arrest warrant issued in his name in a 30-year-old case of murder.

As soon as the Lok Sabha convened this morning, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena members demanded Soren's resignation as the Jamtara district police had already received an arrest warrant in the minister's name from the local sessions court.

The Opposition members rushed to the well of the House shouting "Shibu Soren resign now", and "warrantwala mantri nahin chalega (A minister against whom arrest warrant is pending will not be tolerated)".

All efforts by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee were in vain as the Opposition protests were relentless. While Chatterjee tried to run the House by asking a couple of members to go ahead with their questions to Urban Development Minister.

G Nabi Azad, matters just became worse. Chatterjee then adjourned the House till noon.

As the House reconvened, VK Malhotra (BJP) put on the record the Opposition's stand on the issue and staged a walkout. After that the House continued with its business.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh or Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee should respond and take the House into confidence on the issue, he demanded.

According to the treasury benches, Soren has moved Ranchi High Court for anticipatory bail.

"These are not such big matters, since the legality of reviving the 30-year-old case have to be examined. There are legal option left open for Soren and he is exploring them. He is not a criminal," said Union Law Minister Hansraj Bharadwaj.

According to reports, Soren was in Ranchi trying secure an anticipatory bail for himself.