BJP unhappy with Hamid Ansari's last-minute conduct in Rajya Sabha

BJP on Friday indicated that it was unhappy with the way Rajya Sabha Chairperson Hamid Ansari had conducted himself during the last few minutes of the session on Thursday when the Lokpal Bill was being discussed but restrained itself due to respect for the high office.

Vice President Ansari, who is ex-officio chairperson of the Upper House, had adjourned the Rajya Sabha stating there was total impasse and the House cannot be run in this noise.

BJP was not pleased with Ansari's decision and felt the matter could have been dealt with differently. The opposition wanted the House to continue functioning till the Bill was passed or seek an extension from the President.

"I have strong views on that ruling but I will keep it to myself," Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said.

Jaitley pointed out that he had beseeched Ansari to take a call on the issue. As the "custodian" of the House, he could decide to continue and allow completion of the proceedings.

Jaitley maintained that as long as the House was in session it was the master and could decide on its own to extend it.

"The presiding officer could have taken the sense of the House and continued with the session. But the chairperson thought otherwise," he said.

BJP is also miffed that though there were reports that President Pratibha Patil is waiting in case the government wanted an extension of the session, UPA did not exercise this option.