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Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi
An angry Opposition took the government to task on Tuesday over a Comptroller and Auditor General report in which strictures have been passed against the Ministry of Defence for purchasing caskets of poor quality at exorbitant rates. The caskets were meant for Kargil martyrs.
Agitated opposition members forced adjournment of both Houses demanding Defence Minister George Fernandes's resignation
Senior Congress leader and former Union finance minister Dr Manmohan Singh led the opposition assault in the Rajya Sabha. "Money has been made from coffins for the Kargil martyrs and it has shocked the nation," he said.
The demand for the defence minister's resignation triggered chaos in the House with the treasury benches matching the Opposition slogan for slogan.
External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said the government "shares the concern" of the Opposition over the CAG report and was willing to "discuss this issue or any other issue."
Senior Congress leader Arjun Singh said that "while the caskets cost $ 172 apiece, the Ministry of Defence brought them for $ 2500." The caskets have been lying unused because of their poor quality, he added.
In the Lok Sabha, speaker G M C Balyogi could not start the question hour as Opposition members kept insisting on a discussion on the CAG report. He adjourned the House 20 minutes before the lunch break.
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