New Delhi: A determined Opposition in Rajya Sabha on December 9 challenged the legality of disinvestment of oil public sector undertakings (PSUs) Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) without bringing the necessary legislation to amend the Act of Parliament by which they were set up, throwing the House into turmoil.

The issue was raised when Leader of the Opposition Manmohan Singh sought clarification on Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie's statement, saying the companies nationalised through an Act of Parliament cannot be privatised through an executive order.

This sparked a furore in the House with the entire Left parties and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) shouting slogans and trooping into the well, leading to an abrupt adjournment of the House for the day.

PTI