Speaker withdraws ruling, NDA jubilant
With his decision to refer the matter pertaining to `disorderly conduct’ of 32 MPs, most of them belonging to the Opposition NDA, to the Privileges Committee drawing flak from almost all political parties, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on M...
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: With his decision to refer the matter pertaining to `disorderly conduct��� of 32 MPs, most of them belonging to the Opposition NDA, to the Privileges Committee drawing flak from almost all political parties, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Monday buckled under pressure and withdrew the reference.
With this, the confrontation that was building up between the Speaker and the Opposition died down. The development marked a major victory for the NDA, which had earlier in the day decided to register its protest against the Speaker���s action by coming to the Lok Sabha with fingers on their lips.
Sure enough, the treasury benches as also the other non-NDA parties were treated to the unusual spectacle of transactions being conducted in the House during the Question Hour amid complete silence from NDA benches. After paying tributes to eminent Gandhian, Nirmala Deshpande, who had passed away on Thursday, the House was adjourned till 2 pm.
At an all-party meeting convened by the Speaker in the interregnum, there was a near unanimity among leaders, barring those belonging to Left parties, that proceedings in the House could not be resumed till the reference on the conduct of 32 MPs was withdrawn by the Speaker from the Privileges Committee. There was a general feeling that the Opposition, in a democratic set-up, had an important role to play and could not be prevented from raising crucial issues on the floor of the House, even if it meant rushing to the well.
There was a realisation that the Speaker, by his action, had precipitated a crisis. At the same, the dignity of the Chair had to be maintained. As a way out, it was suggested that Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee, on the resumption of proceedings, would urge the Speaker to withdraw the reference while, at the same time, assuring him of full co-operation in running the House smoothly. This would then be endorsed by Leader of the Opposition L K Advani.
The script was then played out in the House, and culminated in the Speaker agreeing to withdraw the disciplinary reference. ``I have decided to reconsider the matter and I shall withdraw the same,������ Mr Chatterjee announced, bringing down curtains on the six-day-long controversy that followed his unprecedented action.
ADVERTISEMENT
``Smooth running of the House is my only concern,������ he observed amid demands from RJD leader Devendra Prasad Yadav that he should reveal who had sought apology at the all-party meeting convened by the Speaker. The former Union minister���s concern was shared by the JD(U)���s Prabhunath Singh.This was objected to by BJP deputy Leader V K Malhotra amid protests from the Opposition benches. ``There is no question of apology,������ the Speaker said, downplaying the claims and maintaining that there was no question of retribution.
With almost all the non-Left parties questioning his move, the Lok Sabha Speaker, it now transpires, realised that he may have over-stepped his brief. He got a feel of the mood among MPs at an impromptu meeting convened in his chamber at 10.45 am, minutes before the Lok Sabha was to resume its proceedings. Members cut across partylines to urge him to reconsider his decision withdraw the reference to the privileges committee.
Samajwadi Party MP Mohan Singh, during this meeting, sought to remind the beleaguered Speaker that he himself had been suspended from the House in 1989. ``When you were in the Opposition, you also used to behave in a similar fashion,������ the SP leader said. His views were endorsed by a few other MPs.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mr Singh also expressed his concern over the disturbing trend of the Opposition locking horns with the Speaker during the 14th Lok Sabha. ``Earlier, there used be a deadlock on the floor of the House between the treasury benches and the opposition. But in this Lok Sabha, we���re witnessing a new trend ��� that of the Speaker entering into a confrontation with the opposition. This is not good. The Speaker is supposed to be an umpire,������ he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
A visibly irritated Mr Chatterjee then told the members he would not conduct the proceedings of the House till the issue was resolved and a consensus was arrived at.Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
