India's parliament adjourned Thursday after MPs hastily passed the policy statement of the new left-leaning Congress government which outlines a package of reforms to tackle poverty, a report said.
Lawmakers gave the green light for the adoption of the speech, by voice vote but without the customary debate, amidst opposition protests over the inclusion of ministers facing criminal charges in the new government.
Speaker Somnath Chatterjee adjourned the house as soon as the policy statement - contained in a speech on Monday to both houses of parliament by President Abdul Kalam - was passed, the Press Trust of India news agency said.
The adoption of the president's speech by parliament was never in doubt as the coalition government has a comfortable majority in the 545-member lower house of parliament, said political analyst Neerja Chowdhury.
The speech, read by Kalam on behalf of the government, unveiled an agenda of economic reforms to help fight poverty and new laws to protect religious minorities.
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