Indian parliament adjourned after MPs flash "bribe" money (Extra)

Jul 22, 2008, 11:49 GMT

New Delhi - Commotion gripped the Indian parliament on Tuesday when opposition MPs flashed wads of currency notes which they alleged they were offered ahead of a crucial trust vote in the Congress-party led government.

Lawmaker Ashok Pradhan, belonging to the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), walked to the table of parliament staffers, accompanied by colleagues.

The politicians then placed two leather bags on the table and pulled out bundles of currency notes totaling 10 million rupees (235, 920 US dollars) alleging they were bribed to support the government.

As the nation watched the unprecedented scenes in the Indian parliament, which were telecast over national television, Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal adjourned the parliament session until 5 pm local time.

Later, a large number of MPs, mainly from the opposition benches, trooped towards the empty speaker's chair, shouting slogans.

BJP leaders alleged that the Congress party led United Progressive Alliance had tried to bribe three of its lawmakers.

BJP politician VK Malhotra had alleged that the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Office had become the hub of horse-trading for saving the UPA government.

Congress party leaders said the BJP was trying to disrupt the proceedings since it knew that the government would sail through the trust vote.

'This is a painful and unfortunate day for Indian democracy. The (money) was planted by the opposition members who know that they would be defeated on the floor of the house,' Ashwini Kumar, a Congress spokesman, said.

The Singh government is facing a trust vote after his left-wing partners withdrew parliamentary support protesting against a civilian nuclear deal with the United States.