 "Opposition disrupts pre-noon sitting of RS on conversion issue")
Barring Tamil Nadu parties, the entire Opposition raised slogans and stormed into the Well, forcing Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to adjourn the House first for 15 minutes and then till noon.
As soon as the House met for the day, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said the government had yesterday stated that there was no order asking schools to remain open on Christmas Day for an essay competition on 'Good Governance' to mark former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birthday.
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He said he had a copy of the circular issued to schools and wanted it to be placed on the table of the House.
Soon Congress, SP, BSP, JD-U and TMC members joined in to raise statements by ministers and ruling party MPs, which the opposition members contended were vitiating the communal atmosphere.
They trooped into the Well shouting slogans "Dharam Ka Sauda Band Ko (Stop Selling Religion)" and demanding a reply from the Prime Minister.
Treasury benches objected to repeated disruptions with Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi saying the government was ready for an immediate debate on the issue but the opposition was running away from it.
Attempts by Kurien to restore order failed, forcing the first adjournment for 15 minutes.