LS adjourns twice after uproar over Babhli issue

The Lok Sabha was adjourned twice during the Question Hour after TDP and Shiv Sena members clashed on the issue of construction of Babhli barrage in Maharashtra.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned twice during the Question Hour after TDP and Shiv Sena members clashed on the issue of construction of Babhli barrage in Maharashtra.

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Angry TDP members, who had stormed into the Well, had a heated argument with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. One of them, N Shivaprasad, questioned as to why the party should stick to rules.

This shocked the House even as Speaker Meira Kumar tried to pacify the members and even Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj requested the agitated TDP members to take their seats.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal was to make a statement on the issue but he could not do so amid pandemonium.

After the House was adjourned till 12 noon, Opposition members, including Swaraj and her deputy Gopinath Munde tried to pacify Mukherjee who was visibly upset over the developments.

Shiv Sena members displayed placards with slogans like 'Babhli wahin banayenge' (We will construct Babhli barrage at the same site), while TDP members rushed to the Well accusing Maharashtra of defying Supreme Court guidelines at the Babhli barrage site in Marathwada region of Maharashtra.

Earlier, as soon as the Speaker completed her remarks congratulating Sachin Tendulkar for maximum Test cricket appearances, TDP members led by Nama Nageshwara Rao stormed the Well demanding Centre's intervention in the Babhli project.

They raised slogans "Stop Babhli project" and "We want Prime Minister's involvement" as they rushed to the Well.

Taking cue from TDP members, their Shiv Sena counterparts led by Deputy Leader Anandrao Adsul, also came to the Well shouting counter slogans.

Shiv Sena members including Chandrakant Khaire and Subhash Wankhede, and BJP member Hansraj Ahir were seen in the Well.

Amid noisy scenes, the House was adjourned for nearly 30 minutes, shortly after it met for the day.