Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 PM after uproar on Sri Lankan Tamil issue

NEW DELHI: Uproar by DMK and AIADMK with the support from the Left on the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils led to repeated stalling of proceedings in the Rajya Sabha till 2 PM.

Members from Tamil Nadu raised the issue as soon as the House met for the day, which was to be the first official working day of the budget session after the Presidential address in the joint sitting yesterday.

DMK members were demanding that India should support a resolution moved by the US, France and Norway in the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) against the alleged atrocities committed on Sri Lankan Tamils during the island nation's civil war.

DMK was joined by members of its rival AIADMK and Left parties in seeking a response from the government on the stand India would take on the resolution. Amid uproar the House was adjourned till noon.

Soon after the House reassembled for Zero Hour, the agitating members trooped into the well not paying heed to repeated pleas by Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan, leading to its adjournment for 15 minutes and then again till 2 PM.

The Government agreed to make a statement on the issue and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said, "the External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will reach Delhi today evening. Tomorrow he will make a statement." But, members disagreed and sought a statement today itself.

The issue of alleged atrocities on Sri Lankan Tamils dominated the proceedings, with DMK and AIADMK demanding a statement from the Government on the issue.