Opposition protest shuts down Indian parliament

A defiant opposition blocked proceedings in India’s Parliament for the second day, demanding that the new prime minister drop half a dozen ministers facing murder, kidnapping or bribery charges.

The two houses of Parliament were adjourned as opposition and governing party MPs had angry exchanges over the issue, which has been simmering since Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appointed his Cabinet more than two weeks ago.

As Speaker Somnath Chatterjee asked the defence minister to take up the floor in the lower house of Parliament, VK Malhotra, a Hindu-nationalist leader, said: “First the issue of tainted ministers must be decided.”

That touched off protests from governing Congress party MPs, who maintained that under Indian law, only those convicted by courts are barred from becoming ministers.