New Delhi, Mar 11: Rajya Sabha today witnessed uproarious scenes over the opposition demand for a statement from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the evolving situation in Iraq. Raising the issue during zero hour, senior Congress member Pranab Mukherjee said members wanted that government should take the house into confidence on Iraq developments.
"The all-party meeting is not a substitute for making a statement on the floor of the house," he said and asked when the prime minister would make a statement. As Swaraj rose to clarify the position that she was directed by the chair yesterday that either the Prime Minister or the External Affairs Minister should make a statement and accordingly Yashwant Sinha had come prepared for it, the opposition members were on their feet demanding an assurance that the statement be made by Vajpayee.
Except making some cursory references while replying to motion of thanks to president's address, the Prime Minister did not make any statement on the situation in Iraq, he said. "This is an unusual situation. We expected the Prime Minister to take the house into confidence as it is a matter of concern to all."
Amidst the din, Swaraj said if the members so desired that the statement be made by the Prime Minister, he would come to the house at a convenient time to do so. This set at rest the 30-minute acrimony over the issue.
Bureau Report