Ambedkar cartoon, Aircel-Maxis issue disrupts Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: A cartoon depicting B R Ambedkar, purportedly published in a NCERT textbook, and row over Home Minister P Chidambaram's statement in the Aircel-Maxis deal today led to disruption of the Lok Sabha.

As soon as the House met, Thirumaa Valavan Thol (VCK) trooped into the Well waving placards claiming insult to Ambedkar in a cartoon in an Class XI NCERT textbook.

The House was first adjourned till noon and then till 2 PM amid uproar.

At the same time, BJP members Yashwant Sinha and Shahnawaz Hussain and a few others were on their feet protesting Chidambaram reading out his son Karti's statement in the Lok Sabha yesterday.

Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj sought to know from Speaker Meira Kumar as to how a Minister could read out his son's statement on the pretext of giving a personal explanation to the House.

"Instead of making a personal explanation, he read out a statement on behalf of his son and also invoked Jesus Christ. Why did the Chair allow the statement," Swaraj asked.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said Chidambaram was well within his rights to make a personal statement as Sinha (BJP) had levelled "irresponsible and reckless" allegations against the Home Minister and his son.

He said Sinha had levelled the allegations against Chidambaram without giving a notice to him as per Parliamentary practice.

"The statement was necessary and no rules were flouted," Bansal said adding that the BJP member had sought to link two separate matters that had happened in June and in October.

As Bansal was making his statement on Aircel-Maxis issue involving Chidambaram, Valavan was seen waving a placard and distributing copies of the cartoon among the members.

Later, when allowed to speak, the VCK member demanded HRD Minister Kapil Sibal's resignation triggering uproar.