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Parliament adjourned over PM's statement

Our Correspondent in New Delhi

Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day on Thursday following pandemonium over an Opposition's demand that Prime Minister A B Vajpayee apologise for his controversial statement pertaining to the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Facing intense opposition pressure on the Ayodhya issue, Vajpayee on Wednesday had rejected the demand for resignation of L K Advani and two other chargesheeted ministers and instead came out in support of the temple construction movement.

Simultaneously, Bharatiya Janata Party president Bangaru Laxman had ruled out any apology for the demolition.

The Congress Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Vajpayee for supporting the construction of temple and had promised a "befitting reply" in Parliament.

Minutes before the Lok Sabha was called to order by Speaker G M C Balayogi on Thursday, angry members from the Congress, Left parties, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Muslim League took to the well and took vantage positions.

Members from the Telugu Desam, an ally of the ruling National Democratic Alliance, were also seen in the well, but to highlight the plight of farmers in Andhra Pradesh.

Efforts by Balayogi to restore order failed to pacify the members who shouted slogans demanding that Vajpayee should come to the House and apologise.

Balayogi's repeated requests to members to go back to their seats if they had anything to say as this was not the way to raise issues failed to have any effect.

The slogan shouting continued for a couple of minutes as the Opposition seemed in no mood to relent, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day without transacting business.

In the Rajya Sabha, a serene and smiling prime minister greeted the Opposition with a 'namaste' even as they started shouting "shame, shame" .

BJP members countered by shouting "Prime Minister zindabad".

BJP members asked the Opposition to maintain decorum in the House and not talk about the prime minister in this fashion. "Please maintain decorum as the prime minister is here,'' BJP member A D Dave said.

With inputs from agencies

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