New Delhi, July 23: TDP, an ally of ruling NDA, today created an uproar in the Lok Sabha over construction of "illegal" dams on rivers by Karnataka leading to "acute" water shortage in Andhra Pradesh as Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee joined Speaker Manohar Joshi in asserting that the Question Hour should not be disrupted and accorded top priority. Shortly after the House assembled, TDP members, who had given notices for suspension of the Question Hour, stormed the well demanding that the Karnataka government must immediately stop construction of illegal dams and an independent agency should be sent by the Centre to assess the situation.
Joshi, who had earlier objected to Samajwadi Party member Raj Babbar's attempt to raise the Taj Mahal corridor issue, firmly said he would not allow from tomorrow disruption of the Question Hour and only in exceptional cases he would consider notices of adjournment motion or those for suspension of Question Hour. As agitated TDP members led by their leader K Yerran Naidu continued their protest, Vajpayee said it has been the tradition of the House to always give priority to the Question Hour and issues agitating members could be raised later.
"The Question Hour is for all parties and not for individuals only," the Prime Minister said, appealing to the Speaker that members from Karnataka could also be heard on the TDP charge regarding construction of dams.
The Speaker rejected all notices for suspension of Question Hour and those for adjournment motions. Bureau Report