Back in Lok Sabha, Congress members' protests lead to adjournment

NEW DELHI: After a lull, the Lalit Modi controversy and Vyapam scam returned to disrupt the proceedings of the Lok Sabha today as Congress members stormed the Well holding placards and shouting slogans, much to the dismay of the Speaker.

The 25 Congress members, whose five-day suspension by the Speaker had ended on Friday evening, were back in the House in full strength. During their suspension, several opposition parties were either boycotting the proceedings in solidarity or walking out of the House all these days.

Amid bedlam created by a united opposition, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House for 30 minutes at the suggestion of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav to call leaders of various parties to break the logjam.

Yadav's suggestion did not find favour with Congress as Sonia Gandhi was seen saying "no" and party leader Mallikarjun Kharge suggesting that the SP leader was giving his individual views.

As Yadav again sought to press his point, Gandhi was seen telling partymen to resume slogan shouting in the Well, which was temporarily stopped when the SP chief was speaking.

While Yadav, his nephew and party colleague Dharmendra Yadav, RJD's Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav and AAP's Bhagwant Mann decided to meet Mahajan, Congress members refused to do so.

Placards and slogan shouting were back in the House as soon as Speaker rejected opposition's notices of adjournment motion to discuss Lalit Modi issue and Vyapam scam.