India parliament stalls for sixth day

NEW DELHI, India -- Chaos reigned in India's parliament for a sixth straight working day as opposition lawmakers called for the government to resign over an arms bribery scandal.

The Times of India reports Wednesday's protests in the lower house, or Lok Sabha, were led by the women members of parliament, who called Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee a thief.

Protests ceased in the upper house long enough for lawmakers there to pass the country's vote-for-account bill, which allows the government to continue spending until next fiscal year's budget is passed.

The bill was approved by the lower house on Tuesday.

After Wednesday's adjournment, about 50 lawmakers continued their war of words outside parliament as security men struggled to keep them apart.

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Indian media reports say the opposition, led by the Congress Party, plans to continue their protests until parliament goes into recess on Friday. The body re-adjourns in April.

Long-term plan

The arms scandal first came to light last week, when journalists from an internet news portal released tapes showing ruling party and high-ranking officials apparently taking bribes from journalists posing as arms dealers.

The scandal, which some media reports have called "Defensegate", has resulted in the resignation of Defense Minister George Fernandes, and the ouster of Bangaru Laxman as head of Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party.

Four military officials have also been suspended while the armed forces conducts its own probe into the incident.

The Congress Party plans to launch what it calls a 'long-term plan' for Vajpayee's ouster this weekend, by holding a series of public rallies across the country.

The government too, has said it will give the Indian people its side of the story.

Vajpayee has ordered lawmakers in his party to go to their constituencies and deny the corruption allegations.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Tehelka: Indian news

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