New Delhi: Union Minister M K Alagiri is yet
to respond to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar`s invitation to
meet her on his plea to allow him to speak in Tamil in
Parliament.
"I have been requesting him to come and meet me so that
all his problems are resolved. I am here to resolve all
problems," Kumar told reporters when asked about Alagiri`s
response to her invitation.
Alagiri, who is the Minister for Chemicals and
Fertilisers, was asked by the Speaker over two months ago to
meet her to discuss his request to allow him to speak in Tamil
as he was not fluent in Hindi or English.
The Speaker said there were 14 languages in which
interpretation facilities were available in Parliament. To
avail of this facility, members have to give advance notice
and get the Speaker`s permission.
Due to the language barrier, Alagiri has perhaps become
the first Cabinet Minister to have reportedly authorise his
junior Srikant Jena to answer questions in Parliament and has
sought permission from the Speaker to reply in Tamil.
When asked to comment on Alagiri, a DMK Minister, not
responding to the Speaker`s invitation, senior AIADMK leader M
Thambidurai said "when Speaker extends this kind of
invitation, the concerned Minister must respond properly."
"He should take up this opportunity and attend the
Parliament session. It is the Minister`s duty to take up
problems with the Speaker," Thambidurai said.
PTI
