The BJP veteran said neither Lok Sabha Speaker nor Parliamentary Affairs Minister is running the House
Senior BJP leader L K Advani has maintained a stoic silence for a long time. But, on Wednesday, as disruptions over demonetization stalled business in the House for the 16th day, he lost his cool and vented his anger before Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar.
After Lok Sabha was adjourned 15 minutes before lunch break, Advani called Kumar to his seat and said, “Who’s running the House? It is running on its own.... Neither the Speaker nor Parliamentary Affairs Minister is running it.”
Amidst the din, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had adjourned the House around 12.45 pm till after lunch. Advani was seen asking an official on the reporter’s table till what time the House had been adjourned. When he was told 2 pm, Advani said, “Why 2 pm, it should be adjourned sine die.”
The 89-year-old leader described the situation as disgraceful. Kumar and minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs S S Ahluwalia were seen trying to pacify Advani and pointed to the press gallery, from where several media-persons were watching. Advani retorted, “I am going to say it publicly... I will tell the Speaker. Both sides are party to this.”
However, he left Parliament without talking to anyone.
Around an hour earlier, Advani was seen talking in the Parliament lobby to a group of around eight BJP MPs, including Minister of State for Finance Arjun Meghwal and chief whip Rakesh Singh. Sources said Advani was agitated and repeatedly said “aisa nahi ho sakta (it cannot be like this).”
According to sources, Advani was believed to have told Naidu that if MPs did not work, they should not draw salaries.
Sources close to Advani said he was venting his anguish over a handful of people holding Parliament to ransom.
Congress cashed in on Advani’s remarks. “He has brought up the correct perspective that it is the responsibility of the Government to keep the House in order. It is the responsibility of the government of the day to make sure proper floor management and that maximum work is done during working hours of both the Houses. So, we take it as good advice and are hopeful that the government should take it as good advice,” said Congress’s Sushmita Dev.
However, later in the day government sources said efforts were being made to reach an understanding with the Opposition to find a way out of the deadlock. A Congress leader said the issue will be discussed with other Opposition parties on Thursday morning.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Narendra Modi with L K Advani and Rajnath Singh")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}