Both Houses of Parliament adjourned over Tharoor issue

Both Houses of Parliament had to be adjourned today during Question Hour after opposition parties created an uproar demanding that Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor submit his resignation over the Kochi IPL ownership controversy.

Both Houses of Parliament had to be adjourned on Friday during Question Hour after opposition parties created an uproar demanding that Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor submit his resignation over the Kochi IPL ownership controversy.

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As soon as the Lok Sabha met today, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), JP, Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal and other party members demanded a discussion on the controversy surrounding Tharoor.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs P K Bansal informed the House that Tharoor would make a statement in the Lok Sabha at noon but the opposition was not pacified. A miffed Bansal complained that Question Hour should not be done away with.

Speaker Meira Kumar also pleaded with the Opposition to allow the proceedings to continue in the wake of Bansal's statement.

BJP members raised slogans demanding that Tharoor step down. The Speaker then adjourned the House till noon.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha. BJP, SP and Janata Dal (United) members demanded a discussion over the Tharoor issue as soon as the Rajya Sabha convened for the day. Chairman Hamid Ansari pleaded with them to allow Question Hour to continue. Asom Gana Parishad members joined the Opposition, forcing the Chairman to adjourn the House till noon.