rediff.com
rediff.com
News
      HOME | NEWS | REPORT
Monday
July 22, 2002
2056 IST

NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
SOUTH ASIA
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES
US ARCHIVES
SEARCH REDIFF








 Click for confirmed
 seats to India!



 Top ways to make
 girls want u!



 Spaced Out?
 Click Here!



 Secrets every
 mother should
 know


 Search the Internet
         Tips
E-Mail this report to a friend
Print this page Best Printed on HP Laserjets



Lok Sabha likely to discuss Gujarat under rule 193

Shahid K Abbas in New Delhi

The Lok Sabha is likely to discuss the dissolution of the Gujarat assembly on Tuesday under rule 193, highly placed sources informed rediff.com.

Rule 193 allows for a short duration discussion on any issue.

It states: "Any member desirous of raising discussion on a matter of urgent public importance may give notice in writing to the Secretary-General specifying clearly and precisely the matter to be raised."

The rule adds that the notice should be accompanied by 'an explanatory note stating reasons for raising discussion on the matter in question'. The notice has to be supported by the signatures of at least two other members.

The dissolution of the Gujarat assembly on July 19 rocked both Houses of Parliament with the opposition demanding the imposition of President's rule on the state leading to the adjournment of the Houses for the day.

While the Rajya Sabha was adjourned by Chairman Krishan Kant amid uproarious scenes, the Lok Sabha witnessed nearly an hour-long slogan shouting by a combined opposition members.

The House was later adjourned for the day after the Speaker Manohar Joshi had carried through the Question Hour and allowed the Culture and Tourism Minister Jagmohan to seek the consent of the House to introduce the Imperial Library (Indentures) Validation Repeal Bill, 2002.

The opposition members were demanding that Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani,, who also holds the Home portfolio, clarify why Modi should not be removed and Article 356 imposed on the state

In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan requested the opposition member to raise the issue later, promising that the government would answer their questions.

But pandemonium continued all through the Question Hour with Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal combine rushing to well of the House shouting 'we want 356 (imposition of President's rule under Article 356 of the Constitution) and Modi hatao, desh Bachao (Remove Modi, save the country)'.

Earlier, 17 opposition members had given notice for the adjournment of the Question Hour, which was raised by Congress members S Jaipal Reddy and Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi.

Speaker Manohar Joshi allowed Dasmunshi to explain the reasons for their demand to suspend the Question Hour. Munshi contended that since there was a 'total breakdown of law and order in Gujarat necessitating the immediate imposition of President's rule' the Question Hour should be suspended to discuss the issue.

However, the Speaker did not budge and carried through the Question Hour, also allowing the papers to be laid. But with the Congress-RJD members continuing to troop to the well of the House, the Speaker adjourned the House till 2:00 pm.

As the House reassembled at 2:00 pm, the opposition continued with its demand forcing the Deputy Speaker P M Sayeed to call it a day.

Similar protests were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha where Kant first adjourned the House for an hour and later for the day.

The Congress leader in the Upper House Dr Manmohan Singh demanded the suspension of the Question Hour to raise the dissolution issue.

While the ruling party members objected to his demand and pressed for continuation of normal business, Singh insisted that the Gujarat government had 'utterly failed' in discharging its constitutional obligations.

He said that it was a fit case to be brought under President's rule particularly in view of the unanimous resolution passed by the same House asking the central government to ensure protection of life and property to the people of Gujarat.

Communist Party of India-Marxist member Nilutpal Basu, who has earlier given notice for adjournment of the business after the question hour, revised his notice for immediate discussion.

ALSO SEE:
Complete coverage of the Gujarat riots

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report

ADVERTISEMENT      
NEWS | MONEY | SPORTS | MOVIES | CHAT | CRICKET | SEARCH
ASTROLOGY | CONTESTS | E-CARDS | NEWSLINKS | ROMANCE | WOMEN
SHOPPING | BOOKS | MUSIC | PERSONAL HOMEPAGES | FREE EMAIL| MESSENGER | FEEDBACK