Parliament disrupted over Belgaum, Commonwealth Games
Both houses of Parliament were adjourned on Tuesday as opposition MPs disrupted proceedings over the Belgaum district dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka and alleged diversion in Commonwealth Games funds.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for half an hour after leaders from Maharashtra and Karnataka gathered near Speaker, Ms Meira Kumar's podium over the disputed district of Belgaum.
The boundary row suddenly came to the limelight last month following the central government’s affidavit in the Supreme Court that the disputed areas could not be made a part of Maharashtra merely because a majority of the population there speak Marathi.
Trouble began as soon as the house assembled in the morning. Shiv Sena members from Maharashtra sought Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh's intervention in the matter, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members divided on the issue along state lines.
Deputy Leader of Opposition, Mr Gopinath Munde, supported the cause of Maharashtra, while BJP leader from Karnataka, Mr Ananth Kumar, raised his voice in support of Karnataka.
Shiv Sena MPs gathered near the speaker's podium waving placards, prompting BJP MPs from Karnataka to do the same.
There was chaos in the Rajya Sabha too. The upper house was also adjourned till 12 noon as opposition party members protested against the diversion of funds meant for Scheduled Castes towards Commonwealth Games expenditure.
As soon as the house met for question hour, opposition MPs were on their feet protesting the diversion of funds.
MPs from the BJP, Left, Samajwadi Party and others shouted slogans against the government.
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