Army deployment in Bengal toll plaza : Uproar in Parliament, RS adjourned

Taking up the issue, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad wanted the Centre to clarify the issue. "The Centre must clarify it. In fact, PM must clarify as to why state's rights are being impinged on," he said.

t seems out of the way. Army doesn't collect toll? There is no law and order issue in WB for Army to be deployed?," Azad said.

BSP leader Maywati said, "Grave injustice has been done towards the West Bengal CM. It was a breach of constitution.  Shouldn't politicise the army."

However, trying to pacify the Opposition leaders, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vinkiah Naidu said it was a routine exercise of the army and Bengal was taken into confidence.

"It happened last year and last to last year. Let’s not drag army into controversy," he said.

The House plunged into a chaos as Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre tried to explain that similar exercises by the army were conducted in 2015 at the same location.

Agitated Trinamool Congress members accused Bhamre of misleading the Rajya Sabha and giving no conclusive answer on  army deployment.

As the uproar by Opposition members continued to disrupt normal proceedings, Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the House till 2 30 pm.

In the Lok Sabha, after Trinamool Congress members raised the "army deployment" issue, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the army was  conducting routine exercises.

"Concerned officials were intimated by Army this year too. Original dates were December 28, 29 and 30 which were changed to December 1, 2 on the recommendation of Kolkata police," he said.