New Delhi: There was high drama in Parliament on Monday when Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee adjourned the lower House after Opposition MPs gave him a silent treatment, protesting his decision to discipline unruly MPs.
Chattterjee had referred 32 “indiscplined” MPs from various Opposition parties to the Parliamentary privileges committee
In an apparent attempt at Gandhigiri, the NDA leaders decided to observe maun vrat (vow of silence) to protest the Speaker's decision – a “policy” to be reviewed every day till the current Parliament session ends on May 9.
Not just the NDA, the Samajwadi Party too is protesting, saying the MPs have never been subjected to such restrictions.
On Thursday, the Speaker had referred the MPs to the privileges committee for disrupting proceedings in the House. Thirty-one MPs from the NDA camp had raised slogans against price rise in the House on April 24.
BSP MP Brajesh Pathak had caused repeated disruptions when Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan was making a statement in the House the next day.
Responding to the Speaker's disciplinary action, BJP leader VK Malhotra said the privileges committee was not for “paralyzing” MPs
“Privileges Committee is for the protection of MPs not for paralysing them. Without notice, the issue was referred to the Committee,” he said.
Meanwhile, sources tell CNN-IBN Chatterjee is likely to withdraw his decision of referring the 32 MPs to the Parliamentary priviledges committee. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and leader of Opposition L K Advani are likely to make a statement in Lok Sabha at 1400 hrs (IST).
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