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Rajya Sabha adjourned for third day

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the third successive day today without transacting any business as the Opposition refused to budge from its stand that the allegations levelled by sacked naval chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat be taken up for discussion immediately.

Soon after the question hour began, several Congress members, supported by other Opposition members, got up and insisted that the House take up the discussion on the Bhagwat issue through the substantive motion of Suresh Pachouri (Congress), which had already been admitted in the agenda by the Business Advisory Committee.

Kapil Sibal (Congress) said the issue concerned the nation's security and must be given precedence over all other business.

Sibal said Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Krishan Kant had informed the House on Tuesday that he had asked Leader of the House and Union Industry Minister Sikandar Bakht to convey to him as to when the discussion could be held on the Bhagwat issue. ''Unfortunately, despite the chair's directive, the minister has not replied so far,'' he added.

There were frequent interruptions from the Bharatiya Janata Party members when Sibal was speaking even as he drew support from the Opposition members belonging to different parties.

Bakht, who was present in the House, stated that newspapers had already reported what had been decided by the committee of members of Parliament on the issue. His comments, however, brought the Opposition members once again on their feet.

''Let him complete... Nobody will be allowed to say anything until the leader of the House has spoken,'' the chairman ruled.

Amid the din, Bakht said the House would discuss the Bhagwat issue on April 13 or 15. However, this did not satisfy the Opposition members who refused to resume their seats.

Sensing the mood of the Opposition members, the chairman adjourned the House for the day, just 10 minutes after the zero hour began.

UNI

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