Left stalls LS proceedings over airport agitation

NEW DELHI: Left parties on Wednesday stalled proceedings in Lok Sabha demanding withdawal of ESMA invoked by the government against the agitation by airport unions and demanded that the existing airports in Hyderabad and Bangalore should not be closed down.

As soon as the House met at 1300 hrs, Left MPs vociferously raised the issue and got support from members of several other parties.

With the continuing din, senior SP leader Mohan Singh, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House till 1330 hrs.

Raising the issues CPI(M) MPs, Mohammad Salim and Basudeb Acharia, demanded that the government must withdraw ESMA and pointed out that the House be informed on the reasons for its imposition.

Amidst the din, Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee said the government was seized of the situation and it was not possible to say anything immediately. But this failed to pacify the agitated members who continued to demand a proper statement from the government.

Singh said the government would make a statement as soon as possible but asked the Members to raise the issue during Zero Hour tomorrow. Refusing to agree, the members said Parliament would have to be informed as it was the custodian of national property.

Amid the uproar, Salim was heard saying that the government cannot take a decision to close down two airports behind the back of the Parliament.