Parliament Stalled over Liberhan Report, Vajpayee Reportedly Indicted
The parliament was stalled on Monday on tabling of Liberhan Commission report on the demolition of disputed Babri structure despite assurance of the government of tabling it with ATR in the current session.
In his response to opposition’s concerns over leakage of the report, Home Minister P Chidambaram said in the Lok Sabha that the report would be tabled in this session along with Action Taken Report. The current session of parliament concludes on December 21.
Soon after their commencement, both the houses of the Parliament witnessed noisy scenes with BJP MPs also storming the well later with demand to instantly table the voluminous report with the ATR.
Leader of Opposition LK Advani said that he was surprised to learn about the leakage of the report. He had also given a notice to Speaker Meira Kumar demanding a debate on the issue.
LK Advani said that he was surprised to learn about the leakage of the report and repoted indictment of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in it, saying that had he been indicted he would have it as a challenge.
He expressed shock over the indictment of senior party leader and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the report as was published in a newspaper and said that had he been indicted he would have it as a challenge.
He stressed that government had no right to delay tabling of the report even for a day.
He said that the demolition of disputed structure was the saddest day of his life but personally, he was proud of his involvement with the Ayodhya movement.
“I want a grand Ram Temple be built there,” he said.
Similar, scenes were witnessed in Rajya Sabha too. Over the leakage of the report, Opposition BJP stalled the Question Hour.
Immediately after the House commenced, Chairman Hamid Ansari mentioned that he has received a notice of suspension of Question Hour to discuss the issue of leakage of Liberhan Commission report.
Advisory Committee of the House had already agreed for a short duration discussion on speedy trial of the case, Ansari said that he would allow the Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley to explain why his notice should be admitted.
Jaitley said that the report was only with the Home Ministry and the Commission and the dignity of the House has been lowered by leakage of the report to the media before it is tabled in the House along with the Action Taken Report (ATR).
The media report, he said, quote sources in the Home Ministry for the report. “Why can’t the Government place the report (in the Parliament) and have a discussion.”
He wanted an inquiry into who leaked the report to the newspaper.
Amar Singh (SP) also condemned the leakage of the report before it being tabled in Parliament.
Minister of State in the PMO Pritviraj Chauhan denied home ministry being behind the leakage.
“I strong deny that home ministry had anything to do with the leakage. Government is prepared to make a statement. The Home Minister is ready to make a statement on this immediately after Question Hour,” he said.
