No question hour in parliament for 12th day

NEW DELHI - Question hour was derailed in both houses of parliament for the 12th day Monday as an unrelenting opposition persisted with its demand for a parliamentary panel probe into the controversial 2G spectrum allotment.

Peace prevailed briefly in the Lok Sabha when Speaker Meira Kumar asked MPs to join her in congratulating Indian sportspersons for their best ever medal tally in Asian Games in China.

However, as soon as she finished reading out her felicitating message for the Indian medal winners at the Asiad, opposition MPs trooped near her podium and started shouting slogans We want JPC. The speaker then adjourned the house till 12 noon.

Scenes in the Rajya Sabha were no different as the upper house was also adjourned soon after it met after the weekend. Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the house to meet again at noon.

This is the 12th successive day of parliament not transacting any significant business and both houses witnessing adjournments barely minutes after meeting.

The question hour was taken up in the Lok Sabha only Nov 9 when the winter session began. In the Rajya Sabha, the crucial question hour was never taken up due to continuing protests.