Regretting the behaviour of NDA members over the conviction of Soren, the Speaker said 'That is why even a cricket coach is abusing us'.
NEW DELHI: Even a child’s e-mail to Lok Sabha Speaker, Greg Chappell’s unsavoury comments, or AB Vajpayee’s take on the sanctity of question hour, failed to discipline our Parliamentarians.
On Wednesday, even as the Lok Sabha witnessed unprecedented acrimony over the conviction of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader and Union minister Shibu Soren, the Speaker tried to calm down the errant MPs by invoking Chappell’s remarks on them and also a letter written by former Prime Minister Vajpayee on the importance of the question hour. But his efforts went in vain.
Just half-an-hour after Chatterjee circulated among floor leaders an e-mail he received from a child pleading with MPs to stop bickering and stand united on social problems and minutes after the Speaker invoked Chappell’s infamous remarks against Parliamentarians and read out Vajpayee’s letter especially to make leader of opposition L K Advani to restrain the BJP members, the House witnessed unprecedented turmoil for about 30 minutes.
“They are disowning their own leader (Vajpayee),” retorted parliamentary affairs minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi making digs at BJP members.
CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta’s remarks against Advani caused a furore among the BJP benches forcing the Speaker to expunge the unsavory language used by both the UPA as well as NDA members. Chatterjee was forced to adjourn the House as his pleas to behave fell on deaf ears.
As repeated pleas to allow the question hour failed, an exasperated Speaker said: “That’s why even a cricket coach is abusing us.” MPs had vociferously protested Chappell’s comment that “Parliamentarians were paid to speak.” “We take pride in being the largest democracy. Is this the way we function? Is this the example we are setting? That is why even a cricket coach is abusing us.”
In his meeting with floor leaders at 10.30 am, Chatterjee had circulated an email he received from a child thinking that it would have a salutary effect on the members.
The email from one Nishant Nihar read: “Future of children is the future of a nation. Why cannot the whole House keep aside the political division and pass a resolution for the future of 1.26 crore poor child workers. Why cannot the Parliament show us - the future citizens of India - how to stand united on national and social problems? Why cannot our leaders teach us the values and responsibility of leadership to care for the weakest of the weak? After all, what you do today will set the guidelines for us to repeat tomorrow.”
Trouble erupted as soon as House assembled at 11 am as Chatterjee prevented Advani from speaking speaking on the Soren issue. He told the leader of Opposition to raise the matter at 12 noon and allow the question hour to continue. Soon, angry BJP and NDA members were on their feet, disrupting the proceedings of the House, targeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for inducting the JMM leader in his Cabinet and seeking his apology for it.
){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}
){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}