Advani statement on July 31

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 27. The Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, will make a detailed statement in the Lok Sabha on the murder of the Samajwadi Party MP, Phoolan Devi, on Tuesday. Given the strong feelings on the subject among the MPs, members will be allowed to seek clarifications from the Minister.

The announcement helped cool tempers and allowed the House to resume normal functioning after angry SP members forced an adjournment for three hours this morning. Agitated Samajwadi and RJD members demanding a statement from the Government created a ruckus forcing the Speaker, Mr. G. M. C. Balayogi, to adjourn the House.

Mr. Balayogi later invited the SP president, Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav, and Mr. Chandra Shekhar along with the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr. Pramod Mahajan, to his chambers for a discussion. During the meeting, the Government indicated its willingness to come out with the details of the murder and also answer queries. After the House reassembled around 2 p.m., Mr. Mahajan made the announcement after which calm was restored.

Mr. Balayogi said an exception was being made in this case in view of the seriousness. He, however, did not give any ruling on the adjournment notice given by the RJD member, Mr. Raghuvansh Prasad.

The Congress, which remained silent in the House, later demanded ``expeditious investigation'' into the incident. The party spokesperson, Mr. S. Jaipal Reddy, said the killing was a serious reflection on the security set-up in the so-called high security zone and demanded a ``transparent, expeditious investigation into the matter''.

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