Thaindian News

New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) On the last day of parliament’s budget session Friday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lambasted the government for not tabling the findings of a probe into the alleged irregularities in the conduct of Commonwealth Games.

Proceedings in both houses of parliament were disrupted, with BJP members walking out from the Lok Sabha after anti-government protests over the Shunglu Committee report, which according to media reports, has been submitted to the government.

The BJP wanted the report be tabled and discussed in parliament, but the government declined the demand.

Raising the issue, veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani said media reports have indicated that the Shunglu panel has submitted its report, and demanded that it should be tabled in parliament “today itself and if possible, have a discussion on it”.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the panel was not formed by parliament but through an executive order and the government was yet to look into its report.

“I will convey to the government through the minister concerned and convey the feelings of the house. If any action has to be taken in the matter, it would be taken,” Bansal said.

Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj was not satisfied with the response and said the government was duty bound to reply to the opposition on any issue.

She later led the BJP MPs out of the house in protest.

The Rajya Sabha proceedings were also stalled over the issue.

As soon as the house met for the budget session’s last day, the BJP joined by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) sought presentation of the Shunglu Committee report, claiming that no action has been taken so far on it.

Raising the issue at zero hour, BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu insisted that the government should respond immediately and assure that action will be taken on the findings of the report.

Naidu also demanded resignation of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, and action against the lieutenant governor of Delhi and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials.

Despite repeated pleas from Deputy Chairman K. Rehman Khan, the opposition members shouted slogans to press for their demands. Just as they were to troop to the chairman’s podium, Khan adjourned the house for 15 minutes.

After the house reassembled, Naidu again raised the issue alleging that the Commonwealth Games were used to create “individual wealth”.

Bansal made identical response in the house as he did in the Lok Sabha.

The opposition, however, did not heed the response and continued rising slogans. The house was later adjourned sine die by Chairman M. Hamid Ansari.