Even on Teachers’ Day, students snubbed the headmaster. Somnath Chatterjee made a fervent plea. “I only hope, at least today on Teachers’ Day, you will listen to the headmaster.”
NEW DELHI: Even on Teachers’ Day, students snubbed the headmaster. Before occupying his chair at 11 am on Wednesday, exasperated by the unruly behaviour of MPs, Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee made a fervent plea. “I only hope, at least today on Teachers’ Day, you will listen to the headmaster.”
But his hopes were dashed. As soon as he finished reading out a statement congratulating scientists for the successful launch of GSLV-F04, NDA members were up on their feet shouting slogans demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to scrutinise the Indo-US nuclear deal. They rushed to the well and created pandemonium, forcing Chatterjee to adjourn the house.
Somnath repeatedly requested the NDA storm-troopers to let the important question hour continue. He said he would give them a chance to speak during zero hour just an hour away, but there were no takers to his appeal.
In Rajya Sabha, it was encore. Both houses were adjourned for the day fuelling speculation that Parliament may be adjourned sine die in a couple of days with no sign yet of an understanding between the opposition and the UPA on the N-deal.
Most MPs seems to have lost interest in the 14th Lok Sabha. Ever since the monsoon session of Parliament commenced on Aug 10, the Lok Sabha alone has lost 18 hours and 75 minutes to disruptions and adjournments. Per minute cost of running Parliament is Rs22,089. That means a loss of roughly Rs3 crore.
If the speaker is agonised over the frequent stalling of the house, sincere MPs who want serious debates on matters of public importance are equally exasperated. Soon after Parliament was adjourned for the day, Sebastian Paul, the independent Left-backed MP from Kerala, vented his frustration saying, “What’s the use of Parliament if we come here only to vote one or two important bills. Let us begin on-line voting. We can as well sit at home and vote and save tax payers’ money.”
){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}