NEW DELHI, 14 March 2007 — Members of left parties and Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) scuffled in the lower house of India’s Parliament yesterday over the location of a maritime university.
Trouble started before the introduction of the Indian Maritime University Bill. The bill proposes the formation of a maritime university at Chennai with regional campuses at Kolkata, Mumbai and Visakhatpatnam. The MPs from West Bengal said the government should turn the existing maritime institute in Kolkata into a university instead of having a new one in Chennai.
The bill was to be introduced by Shipping Minister T.R. Baalu. However, left legislators stormed the well preventing Baalu from doing so. DMK members, including Minister of State for Finance S.S. Palanimanickam reacted spontaneously and formed a human wall in front of Baalu.
Surcharged atmosphere over the controversial bill had earlier in the day led to frequent adjournments of the house. When one left member tried snatching a copy of the bill from Baalu, DMK legislators surged forward in support of the minister leading to the scuffle and uproar in the house.
The house was repeatedly adjourned. When the house reassembled, the leader of the opposition, Lal Krishna Advani, said: “This incident is totally unprecedented because it is within the ruling alliance.” He said differences over the bill should have been sorted out within the Cabinet and among the allies before it was brought before Parliament.
The matter was subsequently sorted out at a meeting called by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The bill will now be referred to a standing committee of Parliament.
