On Tuesday a BSP source had said that Mayawati was keen to take on the BJP to build up her party and may contest from Phulpur constituency that will lie vacant after Keshav Prasad Maurya, deputy chief minister in Yogi government, resigns from it.
Opposition parties joined Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, PJ Kurien on Wednesday when he asked BSP chief Mayawati to take back her resignation, saying he never meant to disrespect her when he asked her to conclude speech after the prescribed three minutes.
"None of us are happy about her resignation. I have utmost respect for her. It was just a misunderstanding. We regard her as a senior leader. The House will ask her to reconsider her decision," said Kurien asking BSP leader Satish Chandra Misra to convey the feelings of the House to her.
Kurien was responding to Misra when he said the entire treasury bench had been instructed to stand and shout when Mayawati stood up to speak.
"They did not allow her to speak. She spoke for two minutes and nine seconds in breaks, and would have even finished in three minutes," Misra said.
While Mayawati could not be contacted, BSP sources told DNA that she is still adamant and not responding. On Tuesday a BSP source had said that Mayawati was keen to take on the BJP to build up her party and may contest from Phulpur constituency that will lie vacant after Keshav Prasad Maurya, deputy chief minister in Yogi government, resigns from it.
Leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad joined Kurien and said, "we should request her to reconsider her resignation". Kurien then asked the treasury benches about government's view on the issue. Responding Naqvi quipped, the matter does not concern the government and it all depends on Mayawati.
Alleging that the ruling party wanted to stifle her voice and the Chiar was not allowing her to speak on the issue of atrocities against Dalits, an angry Mayawati had left the house in a huff on Tuesday and later tendered her resignation to Chairman of the House, Dr Hamid Ansari.
"... It is the decision of the House that she (Mayawati) should take back her resignation," said Kurien.
Explaining Kurien said, he had "nothing against anybody" and added there was no notice by Mayawati (about raising any issue) and even then he gave her the opportunity to speak first and raise the issue bypassing Leader of the Oppostion Ghulam Nabii Azad who in the order of precedence was to speak first.
"...I want to set the record straight... When I came, I saw her standing and gave her three minutes (to speak)... I bypassed the leader of opposition and allowed her to speak," he said.
Leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad joined Kurien and said, "we should request her to reconsider her resignation". Kurien then asked the treasury benches about government's view on the issue. Responding Naqvi quipped, the matter does not concern the government and it all depends on Mayawati.
Too late to apologise
Mayawati had resigned and left the House on Tuesday after being stopped from speaking on atrocities on dalits.
PJ Kurien, Dy Chairman of the RS, on Wednesday said he never meant to disrespect the BSP chief.
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