Parliament was disrupted Wednesday as the BJP attacked the government over the killing of Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir. The main opposition party demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh make a statement and accused Defence Minister A.K. Antony of having misled both houses on the issue.
The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were disrupted for the second consecutive day and adjourned repeatedly over the killing of five Indian soldiers Tuesday by Pakistani troops.
As soon as the lower house assembled, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj questioned the government on the differences in the statements made Tuesday by Antony and the defence ministry on the ambush.
"The defence minister gave a statement but we came to know later that the defence ministry also gave a press statement," Sushma Swaraj said.
She said that while the defence ministry's statement said the Pakistan Army was responsible, the minister gave "a clean chit to it".
"This is a grave issue," Sushma Swaraj said, demanding that Manmohan Singh make a statement.
Minutes after her remarks, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the house till noon as the opposition MPs created a ruckus.
The Left members raised the issue of political killings in West Bengal under Trinamool Congress Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Congress members from Seemandhra region protested against the formation of Telangana and the Bodoland People's Front MP S.K. Bwiswamuthiary pitched for carving Bodoland out of Assam.
The scene was no different when the house reassembled.
Speaking to reporters outside parliament, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha termed Antony's statement "most laughable" and said he had served a breach of privilege notice against the defence minister for misleading the house.
"It seems as if he (Antony) is on the Pakistan Army's side. It was a most laughable statement, as the army has clearly stated that Pakistani soldiers were involved and army is on the ground they know better than what the prime minister and the defence minister know," Sinha said.
"I have given a breach of privilege notice," he said.
The speaker said she was considering it.
As the chaos continued, Meira Kumar again adjourned the house till 2 p.m. and then till 3 p.m.
At 3 p.m., the food security bill was introduced amidst din and as the continuing protests forced the adjournment of the house for the day.
After five Indian soldiers were killed early Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir, Antony said in a statement in the two houses: "The ambush was carried out by approximately 20 heavily armed terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniform."
The issue rocked the Rajya Sabha too which saw four adjournments and missed the question hour. Zero hour mentions were laid on the table of the house without being read.
The first adjournment came soon after question hour began at 11 a.m.
As the house assembled, the BJP's M. Venkaiah Naidu said the government had let down the nation.
"Defence minister made a statement yesterday (Tuesday) (and) defence ministry release said something else... the defence minister should clarify and apologise," Naidu said, adding: "He has let down the country."
As opposition members created a din demanding a clarification, Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the house first for 15 minutes and then till noon. At noon, similar scenes were witnessed, forcing another brief adjournment for 15 minutes.
When the house reassembled, Defence Minister A.K. Antony defended his earlier remark, saying he had to be "careful" while giving a statement.
"As a defence minister, when I make a statement I have to be careful. I made a statement yesterday (Tuesday)... today (Wednesday) the army chief (Gen. Bikram Singh) has gone to the area... if I have any more details, I will come back to you," Antony assured members in the Rajya Sabha.
This agitated the opposition members who questioned if it should be interpreted that the minister did not have any information on the incident.
"If he has to rely on the army chief to get facts, does that mean the minister had no information," the BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad asked.
As Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien tried to defend the minister, Naidu said the chair should not intervene.
BJP members then moved near the chairman's podium, after which Kurien adjourned the house till 2 p.m., followed by another adjournment till 3 p.m., after which it was adjourned for the day.
