Matherani disclosure rocks Parliament

New Delhi: As another chapter of the Volcker drama unfolded on Friday, the Parliament was transformed into a mud-slinging arena. Following claims by Indian envoy to Croatia on Iraqi pay-offs, both Houses were thrown into turmoil on the Volcker issue.

Soon after the Lok Sabha assembled for the day at 1100 (IST) hrs, the Opposition members stormed the well of the House and demanded the resignation of Sonia Gandhi. They started shouting slogans?ab to yeh spasht hai, Sonia Gandhi bhrasht hai (It is now clear that Sonia Gandhi is corrupt).

When the House reassembled at noon, there was no change in the situation with tempers running high and the House was adjourned again till 1430 (IST) hrs after laying listed papers on the table.

The BJP also demanded that an FIR be lodged against those involved in the Iraqi oil-for-food pay-offs.

Congress members shouted back in defense and amidst din, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House for the day.

Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day amid uproarious scenes on the Volcker issue.

PAGE_BREAK

The House earlier witnessed two adjournments following claims of the Indian envoy to Croatia on the issue.

The Prime Minister, who made an identical statement in the Lok Sabha earlier, said the Enforcement Directorate will take "cognizance" of the recent statements on pay offs in Iraqi oil deals attributed to India's envoy to Croatia Aneil Matherani and asserted that "no one who is guilty will go unpunished".

Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha also witnessed scenes of political uproar. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned two times as the Opposition members demanded the arrest of former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and a CBI probe into the matter.

When the House reassembled at 1430 (IST) hrs, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a statement on the issue, but the House was thrown into a pandemonium over procedural wrangles with Congress members demanding that the clarification on the statement be sought only after the scheduled Private Members' business.

The proceedings of the House, which met at 1530 (IST) hrs after three adjournments earlier, were signed off for the day after Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan sensed the mood of an unrelenting opposition.

Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day without conducting any business following claims by Indian envoy to Croatia on Iraqi pay-offs.