RJD, LJP raise ruckus, allege Congress-BJP tie-up
By IANSThursday, August 19, 2010
NEW DELHI - Seeking to quell growing allegations of a trade-off between the ruling Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Rajya Sabha for the second day, an angry BJP Thursday demanded a discussion on the functioning of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in an attempt to clear the air.
The upper house saw three adjournments within the span of an hour when it met after the lunch break at 2 p.m. as the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) members vociferously protested what they called a nexus between the two national parties.
The RJD and LJP along with Samajwadi Party have been alleging that the case against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of the BJP was being slowed down by the CBI on the Congress’ instructions so that the BJP would support the government in passing the nuclear civil liability bill.
As soon as the house met at 2 p.m. after the lunch break, LJP member Ram Vilas Paswan along with RJD members Rajniti Prasad and Ram Kripal Yadav raised their pitch alleging that the Congress and the BJP have joined the hands.
The members trooped to the well of the house, and continued their agitation despite repeated pleas from the chair and attempts from the treasury bench members to pacify them.
Amidst the din, the chair adjourned the house twice for ten minutes each and then finally till 3 p.m.
When the house reassembled at 3 p.m., BJP leader S.S. Ahluwalia demanded a discussion on the functioning of the CBI when the LJP-RJD members raised the issue again.
“The issue (functioning of CBI) has been accepted by the business advisory committee for discussion, a day must be designated soon for the discussion,” Ahluwalia said.
Clarifying its stand after the allegations surfaced on Wednesday following news that Modi was not being charged in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh staged shootout case, the BJP had said it still believes that the CBI is being controlled by the central government.
Stating that a discussion on the central probe agency will answer the questions being raised by the LJP and RJD members, the chair said that the business advisory committee would take up the topic soon.
An article in an English daily Wednesday said that the CBI is not framing any case against Modi in the Sohrabuddin shootout case.
Former Gujarat minister Amit Shah was arrested last month for his alleged involvement in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh case.
The involvement of Modi has also been alleged in the case.
