Congress stages walkout in Lok Sabha on Rafale issue

New Delhi, Feb 12 The Congress Tuesday staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha after its interest for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Rafale deal was rejected.

Kharge tried to talk but Speaker Sumitra Mahajan did not permit and proceeded with the business of the House.

At this a visibly upset Kharge asked loudly, "What is this? We need JPC".

The Speaker said she was not saying no to anybody.

"I will enable you to talk when the time will come. Presently take a seat. You have yelled a great deal. Give your throat some rest," she said.

With this, Kharge sat down yet stated, "If you don't allow us to speak, why should we be here".

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who was sitting by Kharge, nodded in help.

Kharge soon nudged other Congress MPs to restart the protests and they immediately trooped into the well, carrying placards and shouting slogans seeking JPC on the Rafale deal.

Alleging corruption, Kharge said a JPC test was expected to test the arrangement.

He likewise requested discourse on the issue to which the Speaker said a discussion had officially occurred in the House.

Kharge said the CAG report on defence was postponed before the Rajya Sabha and was "spilled". He said the report was not postponed before Lok Sabha.

Mahajan said the reports were tabled before the Lok Sabha, in a clear reference to P Radhakrishnan postponing three CAG reports, including one on defence services.

Interceding in the issue, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the issue of Rafale has been talked about in the House and even the Supreme Court has given its judgement on it.

"The Prime Minister is scared of JPC. Since you are not paying attention to the interest of JPC, we are organizing a walkout," Kharge said as his gathering arranged a walkout.