LS, RS adjourned till noon amid Oppn uproar

New Delhi: Anna Hazare's fast on the issue of Lokpal cast its shadow on Parliament on Tuesday with both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessing opposition uproar over widespread corruption as revealed by several scams.

As soon as the two Houses met, BJP members pressed for suspension of the Question Hour to discuss the serious situation caused by lakhs of people in the country coming out on the streets to protest against corruption.

Amid noisy scenes, both the Houses were adjourned till noon.

In the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj said she has given notice for suspension of Question Hour, claiming that the government cannot wash its hands off the protests which were culmination of "corruption resorted to by the government".

"Scams after scams are being revealed ... the Adarsh society followed by 2G, CWG, Air India and now the KG Basin. People are facing the brunt of price rise and ministers are looting crores (of rupees). People are saying crores are stashed away in foreign banks and there are no funds to build village roads and gutters in the urban areas," she said.

"At such a time, the Lokpal being envisaged in the Bill brought out by the government has neither teeth nor eyes. It is totally ineffective," Swaraj said.

In the Rajya Sabha Hardly had Chairman Hamid Ansari taken his seat, SS Ahluwalia (BJP) said his party has given notice for suspension of Question Hour to discuss corruption in the country.

As he was joined by his party colleagues and members from other opposition parties including Left, AIADMK, JD-U and BSP, Ansari said the issue can be raised during Zero Hour.

"Raise this issue at 1200 hours. Allow Question Hour to be taken up now," he said and took up the first listed question.

But the opposition members did not relent and some BJP members moved to the aisles, prompting ruling Congress members to counter the opposition by shouting "We want Question Hour."

As the din continued, Ansari said, "Nobody can be heard."

With his pleas for allowing Question Hour to proceed going unheeded, he adjourned the House till noon.