Bhagwat issue: No voting in Lok Sabha
Discussion on April 12
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, March 17 — Discussion on the dismissal of former Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat has been put off till after the three-week recess of Parliament.

The Lok Sabha will discuss the issue on April 12 under Rule 193 which does not entail voting. It is yet to be decided under what rule the issue will be debated in the Rajya Sabha.

The Lok Sabha is due to go into recess from March 19 and the Rajya Sabha March 20.

A decision to hold a discussion was arrived at here this evening after two rounds of talks of the group of leaders from both Houses to resolve the issue which rocked Parliament this week.

The issue could not be resolved for the past two days with the Opposition led by the Congress insisting on a discussion on all aspects of the dismissal of Admiral Bhagwat and the government preferring not to have a debate on the sensitive issue.

The Lok Sabha was scheduled to discuss the issue of corruption charges against the Defence Minister today, but in view of the adjournment no business was transacted.

However, at the meeting today the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, said the government was prepared for a discussion on all aspects, which paved the way for the resolution.

It is likely that the Defence Minister will make a suo motu statement in the House, sources said.

The Deputy Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha said the party would insist on a joint parliamentary Committee to go into the issue during the discussion.

The Congress avoided raising the issue for discussion under Rule 184, which could have been a censure motion. The ruling coalition enjoys a majority in the Lok Sabha and with the numbers not in its favour, the Opposition pressed for a discussion under Rule 193.

On the other hand, the Opposition, which enjoys a clear advantage in the Rajya Sabha, wanted to discuss the matter under Rule 170 which entails voting. The government said it was willing to discuss the issue under Rule 176 which does not require voting.

In view of the deadlock, it was decided that the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha in consultation with the Leader of the House, Mr Sikandar Bakht would decide under what rule the discussion took place.

Congress spokesman Ajit Jogi, meanwhile, dismissed as "baseless" a report in a daily which said the dismissed navy chief had met the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi.

Mr Jogi said the matter was a "case of disinformation" by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Opposition forces RS adjournment
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, March 17 — For the second consecutive day the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha turned on the heat on the government by stalling the proceedings and demanding an immediate discussion on the charges levelled by the former Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat.

The agitated Opposition members forced the Chairman, Mr Krishan Kant, to adjourn the House for the day, without transacting any business. Amidst slogan shouting and counter exchanges with the members of the Treasury Benches.

The Opposition members especially from the Congress and the Left parties, refused to give in and wanted to know from the government when the matter would be discussed in the House especially as it had earlier been decided to have a discussion on it on Tuesday. "We want JPC" the Opposition members shouted in chorus soon after question hour ended.

All attempts by the Chairman to restore order went in vain and after 15 minutes of pandemonium and heated exchanges between the members of the Opposition and the Treasury Benches, Mr Krishan Kant adjourned the House for the day.

The Opposition members had yesterday also stalled the proceedings in the Rajya Sabha wanting to know from the government when the matter would be discussed in the House. The agitated members pointed out that the matter had been admitted under Rule 170 for debate and the BAC had decided to have a discussion on the issue on Tuesday, but the government had purposely not listed it in the day's list of business.

Immediately after question hour Congress members led by Mr Suresh Pachauri wanted to know about the fate of the motion which he had moved on the issue and the BAC, in its meeting last week, had decided to have a discussion on it yesterday. Mr Pachauri, supported even by members from other opposition parties, expressed concern that the matter had not been listed yesterday and even today it was missing from the revised list of business for the day.

Mr Pachauri said as the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, was present in the House during question hour, he thought the issue would be taken up for discussion. To his dismay, Mr Fernandes left the House immediately after question hour, he said.

The Congress member wondered why the issue was not listed for discussion in the House today. He wanted to know from the Leader of the House, Mr Sikandar Bakht, who was present, as to when the matter would be discussed, since a decision had been taken on it in the meeting on Saturday last.

Supporting Mr Pachauri, CPM member Mohd Salim said the Chairman had yesterday ruled that any matter discussed by the BAC could not be disclosed in the House. He contended that since the minutes of the particular BAC meeting had been circulated among the members and the matter had been mentioned in the House bulletin, it was no longer confidential and therefore, could be mentioned in the House.

Mohd Salim suggested that the Chair rather seek a consensus of the House for this purpose instead of quoting an earlier rulings by former Lok Sabha Secretary-General Subash Kashyap. He said rulings of a present or former Secretary-General could not be cited as a precedent.

Senior BJP member Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the government was not afraid of discussing any issue. It was prepared for a discussion and had already decided to constitute a committee in which Rajya Sabha Chairman and seven members from the House would be represented, he added.

However, agitated Opposition members countered him saying they wanted an immediate discussion.

To this Mr Malhotra countered, "you are insulting the House, you are insulting the Chairman by your conduct," which led to a heated exchanges between the two sides.

Raising his voice over the din, Mr Malhotra said: "The government is present. It is prepared to discuss it but by your majority you are not allowing the House to function."

This infuriated the Opposition members who began shouting and demanding that the Leader of the House Sikandar Bakht tell them when the matter would be taken up. However, all this while Mr Bakht kept quiet.

As unruly scenes continued, after about 15 minutes, the Chairman adjourned the House abruptly for the day.