CAG report tabled amid commotion in parliament (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI - Parliament’s proceedings were repeatedly disrupted Tuesday as opposition MPs continued to demand a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum allocation scam but the government hurriedly managed to table the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report in both houses despite the commotion.

The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha had to be adjourned for the day. With Wednesday being a holiday because of Eid-al-Azha, parliament will resume Thursday.

The trouble began as soon as the Lok Sabha met with MPs from the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Left parties shouting slogans of “We want justice” and “Order JPC probe into spectrum scam”.

Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the house till 12 noon.

But the protests continued when the house reassembled. Girija Vyas, who was presiding at the time, rushed through some official business, including the tabling of the CAG report on the 2G spectrum scam. When the din continued, she adjourned the house till Thursday.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha. As opposition members disrupted proceedings and demanded the setting up of a JPC, Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan adjourned the house till 12 noon. Later, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 p.m.

Finally, the upper house was adjourned for the day at 2 p.m. as the opposition continued its vociferous protests. Amid the noisy scenes, the chair rushed through some official business, including the tabling of the CAG report.

The government had hoped that the resignation of A. Raja as communications and IT minister would cool the situation. But the opposition has refused to relent and is sticking to its demand for a JPC probe.