New Delhi: The standoff in Parliament over
remarks of Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Mani Shankar Aiyar against
Opposition ended today with the Trinamool Congress member
being reprimanded by Speaker and Aiyar expressing regrets.
In the Lok Sabha, reprimand of Bandyopadhyay by Speaker
Meira Kumar and Opposition appeals to CPI(M) leader Basudeb
Acharia for "forgive and forget" resolved the deadlock.
Aiyar (Nominated) expressed "regret" in the Rajya Sabha
for his remarks against Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley two
days back which provoked the BJP to stall the proceedings
repeatedly.
He said the Chair has already expunged certain words used
by him during the debate on the working of the Ministry of
Home Affairs on May 3.
"I bow to the Chair," Aiyar said, adding he was named the
best Parliamentarian in 2006.
After Jaitley`s nod, the BJP allowed the House to resume
normal business, which included introduction of the Green
Tribunal Bill and debate on it.
With Bandyopadhyay unwilling to budge in the lower house,
a way out was found and Acharia declared he was "closing this
chapter" in deference to the wishes of the leaders of various
parties.
Bandopadhyay had earlier earned the wrath of the Speaker
who disapproved of his "quite unbecoming" behaviour, making
the Trinamool Congress leader the first member to be
reprimanded in the current Lok Sabha.
Noting that Bandyopadhyay used certain words, the Speaker
said, "Those words and the manner in which they were said were
quite unbecoming of a member of the House. I disapprove of
such conduct. I hope no member will again give an occasion for
the Chair to make such an observation."
Left members had stormed the well earlier in the day,
saying nothing short of an unconditional apology would
suffice.
Earlier, continuing their protests against the remarks by
Bandyopadhyay and Aiyar, the Left stalled proceedings in the
lower house while the BJP forced adjournment in the Rajya
Sabha.
PTI
