Rajya Sabha in turmoil over Natwar issue

The Rajya Sabha was thrown into turmoil after opposition members stormed the well protesting against the chair not allowing Natwar Singh to make a personal explanation leading to adjournment of the house 40 minutes ahead of lunch recess.

In the midst of members raising some important issues, Natwar Singh repeatedly stood up to make his submission but Deputy Chairperson K Rahman Khan said his statement was still under examination by Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and until a decision was taken by him, he would not be allowed to raise the matter.

This triggered protests from BJP benches with Yashwant Sinha and S S Ahluwalia saying it was a member's right to make a personal explanation and that Natwar Singh be allowed to make his submission.

To this, Khan said senior members were well aware of rules and personal explanation by a member could be made only after the Chairman takes a decision. This was, however, not acceptable to unrelenting opposition members and several of them trooped into the well creating a bedlam.

Repeated pleas by the Deputy Chairperson for order and his suggestion that they should take up the matter with the Chairman fell on deaf ears and the House was adjourned at 12:20 PM.

Natwar Singh had yesterday submitted a written personal explanation to the Chairman. Under the Rajya Sabha rules, Shekhawat has a right to vet it to see if there were any debatable points before allowing the member to make his submission in the house.