Curtains down on row over naming of 22 MPs in RS bulletin

NEW DELHI: RajyaSabha today sought to bring the curtains down on a row over mentioning of names of 22 MPs in its bulletin, with Deputy Chairman P J Kurien holding it was neither naming nor punishment for the members.

"Nobody is punished. Nobody is named. Names of only those who entered in Well has been reported (in the bulletin)," said Deputy Chairman P J Kurien.

He was responding after Maya Singh (BJP) asked about the fate of members' demand for reconsidering the action of the Chair on August 8 when the names of 22 members (20 from BJP and 2 from TDP) appeared in the bulletin for 'gross disorderly conduct' in the House.

When Singh said she never entered the Well and still her name was in the bulletin, Kurien said the issue would be separately looked into.

He also said that whatever assurance has been given to members regarding the issue, it will be implemented.

To a query under which rule the names were put in the bulletin, Kurien said no rules are required for that.

BJP and TDP members had vociferously protested the naming of their party colleagues in the House bulletin for disrupting proceedings.

A united Opposition had forced the Chair to reconsider the decision as Kurien had responded positively saying, "the matter will be reconsidered."