Uproar in RS over special status for Uttar Pradesh, adjourned till noon

The Rajya Sabha was Monday adjourned till noon following noisy protests by the Samajwadi Party members demanding special status for Uttar Pradesh.

As the house met at 11 a.m., members condoled the death of sitting BJP MP Dilip Singh Judeo and victims of the naval submarine tragedy. While Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari asked for resuming the Question Hour, Samajwadi Party members raised slogans demanding special status for Uttar Pradesh.

The government informed the house that a committee has been set up to devise criteria for providing special status to states. "Samajwadi Party is demanding special status for Uttar Pradesh as sought by Bihar. Bihar has not been given special status... a committee has been made to devise a criteria for the same," said Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla.

"The report is awaited and, following that, decision would be taken," said Shukla. The Bharatiya Janata Party moved for suspension of the Question Hour to discuss the issue of missing files relating to the coal-scam.

Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal Saturday admitted that some files related to the coal blocks allocation scam have gone missing. Ansari agreed to take up the matter during Zero Hour while Samajwadi Party members continued with their protest. As commotion prevailed, the house was adjourned till noon.