CAG reports: Parliament adjourned till noon after uproar

NEW DELHI: A determined opposition on Tuesday forced the adjournment of Parliament till noon demanding resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the CAG report on coal block allocation.

As soon as the Lok Sabha met for the day, opposition members trooped into the well raising slogans to pin down the government on the basis of the CAG reports.

The CAG reports have estimated "undue benefits" of over Rs 3.06 lakh crore to private parties in coal block allocation without bidding, Delhi Airport development and diversion of coal to a power project.

The issue was raised vociferously by BJP members, who were supported by their colleagues from other opposition parties including AIADMK, Left and TDP.

Amid uproar, Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the House till noon barely a few minutes after it met for the first time since the latest controversy hit the government.

In the Rajya Sabha, almost the entire Opposition led by BJP Deputy Leader Ravi Shankar Prasad and M Venkaiah Naidu, and Shivanand Tiwari (JD-U) were on their feet and raised slogans as soon as the House assembled.

The BJP-led NDA demanded Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation, while Left parties wanted the government to spell out its stand on the three CAG reports.

Amid din, Samajwadi Party, which supports the UPA government from outside, protested Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma's comments on inflation.

Verma, who deserted SP to join Congress, had stated that high food inflation was good as it benefited farmers. As his plea for order in the House went unheeded, Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned it till noon.