NEW DELH, 11 March 2008 — Verbal exchanges between lawmakers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), over Sunday’s attack on the latter’s national headquarters, rocked both houses of the Parliament yesterday. Special discussions were held on the issue, for which both the left and the BJP had given notices.

Joined by Congress, the left accused the BJP of having attacked the CPI (M) headquarters in Delhi on Sunday. Countering them, the BJP blamed CPI (M) for having begun the violence targeting its workers who were a staging a “peaceful” protest against the killing of its cadres in the southern Kerala state.

In the Lok Sabha, after a heated exchange of about half an hour, BJP legislators rushed to the well of the house. Condemning their action, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said: “It is a matter of great sadness and sorrow... one of the major parties, after speaking itself, is not allowing others to speak. I condemn this.”

He adjourned the house for 50 minutes.

Earlier, initiating the discussion, Muhammad Saleem (CPI-M) said that the activists, who had attacked the party’s headquarters, were clearly BJP members. The activists indulging in the act were so “ashamed” of their action that they did not display any party flag, Saleem said.

He alleged that four BJP members of the corporation were part of the gang that attacked the CPI (M) office. A BJP flag was found in a car in which stones were brought for throwing at the CPI (M) office, Saleem alleged as the BJP members protested loudly.

Saleem claimed that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Jagdhish Mukhi of the BJP, who is the leader of opposition in the Delhi Assembly, had taken responsibility for the violence. This triggered a vociferous protest from BJP members.

Blaming the CPI (M) for starting the violence by throwing stones from inside the building on the demonstrators, BJP’s deputy leader in the House Vijay Kumar Malhotra said: “It was preplanned by the CPI (M).” Malhotra also accused police of taking sides by initiating action against BJP activists under pressure from the Home Ministry.

The Rajya Sabha also witnessed pandemonium of the same kind. Home Minister Shivraj Patil assured the legislators that action would be taken against people who attacked the CPI (M) headquarters. “Anybody who has committed a crime will be proceeded against. You can rest assured this will be done,” Patil said.

Rejecting the BJP’s demand for taking action in communist-ruled Kerala, Patil said: “It is not possible for the central government to start an inquiry.”