07-22-2008, 05:35 PM
<b>Lok Sabha adjourns till 6 pm over bribe money allegations</b>
July 22, 2008 16:22 IST
Last Updated: July 22, 2008 17:19 IST
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday adjourned for third time over allegations of bribery. This time till 6 pm.
The House witnessed high drama when a Bharatiya Janata Party member shocked the House by walking into the well with a bag full of currency notes, which he claimed was given by a Samajwadi Party leader in return for his support in the trust vote.
Amidst a flutter, Deputy Speaker Charanjit Atwal adjourned the House briefly, leaving members surcharged.
Trouble broke out when Ashok Argal, a BJP member from Morena and some others took out wads after wads of currency notes to substantiate their claim that horsetrading had taken place and heavy cash was used to "purchase" MPs for the trial of strength.
Looking at the press gallery, the BJP members alleged that an SP leader promised three of them Rs 3 crores each, of which Rs 1 crore was paid in advance.
Meanwhile, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee met leaders of political parties on allegations of MPs being bribed for the trust vote.
Leader of the Oppposition Advani claimed that the three BJP MPs -- Ashok Argal, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Bagora -- were offered Rs 3 crore each and were handed over Rs 1 crore each in advance.
Terming the incident as a breach of privilege, Advani said the MPs were given the money for abstaining from voting during the trust vote.
"In my own whole life I have not come across such a sad event. We had received information yesterday and today. This is shameful," he said.
Advani noted that he had hinted about horse-trading in his speech on Monday while some Left members openly spoke about such things in the House.
He said three BJP MPs came to him on Monday saying they were offered Rs 3 crore each for "only abstaining" during the voting. "Rs 1 crore was given in advance and the rest was to be given later," he claimed.
"They asked me whether they can produce the money in the House. I said it is normally not allowed. But the kind of scandal it is I thought the House will at least be adjourned," he said.
"But as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha scandal, it is not a small thing and it is related to Parliament. It is a case of corruption. Whoever had given, whoever tells them to abstain, this is the breach of privilege," Advani said.
He said the incident should be taken "very seriously".
Advani also said he would not name anyone and "I would let them name themselves."
July 22, 2008 16:22 IST
Last Updated: July 22, 2008 17:19 IST
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday adjourned for third time over allegations of bribery. This time till 6 pm.
The House witnessed high drama when a Bharatiya Janata Party member shocked the House by walking into the well with a bag full of currency notes, which he claimed was given by a Samajwadi Party leader in return for his support in the trust vote.
Amidst a flutter, Deputy Speaker Charanjit Atwal adjourned the House briefly, leaving members surcharged.
Trouble broke out when Ashok Argal, a BJP member from Morena and some others took out wads after wads of currency notes to substantiate their claim that horsetrading had taken place and heavy cash was used to "purchase" MPs for the trial of strength.
Looking at the press gallery, the BJP members alleged that an SP leader promised three of them Rs 3 crores each, of which Rs 1 crore was paid in advance.
Meanwhile, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee met leaders of political parties on allegations of MPs being bribed for the trust vote.
Leader of the Oppposition Advani claimed that the three BJP MPs -- Ashok Argal, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Bagora -- were offered Rs 3 crore each and were handed over Rs 1 crore each in advance.
Terming the incident as a breach of privilege, Advani said the MPs were given the money for abstaining from voting during the trust vote.
"In my own whole life I have not come across such a sad event. We had received information yesterday and today. This is shameful," he said.
Advani noted that he had hinted about horse-trading in his speech on Monday while some Left members openly spoke about such things in the House.
He said three BJP MPs came to him on Monday saying they were offered Rs 3 crore each for "only abstaining" during the voting. "Rs 1 crore was given in advance and the rest was to be given later," he claimed.
"They asked me whether they can produce the money in the House. I said it is normally not allowed. But the kind of scandal it is I thought the House will at least be adjourned," he said.
"But as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha scandal, it is not a small thing and it is related to Parliament. It is a case of corruption. Whoever had given, whoever tells them to abstain, this is the breach of privilege," Advani said.
He said the incident should be taken "very seriously".
Advani also said he would not name anyone and "I would let them name themselves."