Amar Singh in scuffle with BJP's Ahluwalia in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, Nov 24 (PTI) Triggered by slogan shouting, two
senior leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Samajwadi
Party (SP) on Tuesday got into a scuffle in the Rajya Sabha
(Upper House of Indian Parliament) after tabling of the report
of the Liberhan Commission on the demolition of Babri Masjid.

As soon as Home Minister of India P Chidambaram got up to
table the report at 12:20 PM IST during Zero Hour, BJP members
started raising slogans of "Jai Shri Ram".

This provoked SP member Amar Singh who led his party
colleagues to BJP senior member S S Ahluwalia in the front row
and was seen catching his "old friend" but political rival by
collar.

Singh and Ahluwalia were separated by their party
colleagues.

The unruly scene upset Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan so
much that he left the Chair. The House was adjourned till 1400
hours IST.

In the commotion, SP members shouted counter slogans "Ya
Ali, Ya Ali".

When the House reassembled in the afternoon, an anguished
Chairman Hamid Ansari said the incident did not bring "credit
to the House".

Amar Singh expressed "regrets" stating that the incident
took place because of emotions.

Singh said he walked up to Ahluwalia, with whom he had
association since student days, in the heat of the moment and
the "unfortunate" incident happened.

"I went there (to Ahluwalia) as a matter of personal right
...but the unfortunate incident happened".

Noting that he was an MP for the last 14 years, Amar Singh
said that no such incident had taken place earlier and
"whatever happened today was because of emotions". But he
urged BJP not to raise slogans.

Responding to Singh's regret, Ahluwalia said whatever
happened was unfortunate and should not have happened.

Sharing the concern of the Chair, Parliamentary Affairs
Minister P K Bansal said members of all political parties
should strive to preserve, maintain and enhance the prestige
of the House of Elders.

Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley said differences must be
resolved through debates. He said his party would do utmost to
maintain the dignity of the House. PTI PC
SDE
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