http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2012/12/lok-sabha-adjoured-sine-die-quota.htmlLok Sabha adjoured sine die. Quota Constitution amendment bill? In the limbo.
http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2012/12/chief-sonia-charges-at-dalit-singh-in.htmlChief Sonia charges at Dalit Singh in Lok Sabha - Kay Benedict. On to Speaker's chamber.
Quota standoff turns physical
THURSDAY, 20 DECEMBER 2012 02:48 PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | NEW DELHI
The Lok Sabha witnessed a high-voltage drama on Wednesday when UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi scuffled with a Samajwadi Party MP who sought to block the introduction of the quota-in-promotion Bill. Gandhi jumped into the Well of the House and attempted to catch Nagina MP Yashvir Singh by his collar — in an apparent bid to retrieve the copy of the Bill, which he had snatched from MoS for personnel V Narayanasamy.
The incident stunned the House and before Congress leader Vilas Muttemawar (Nagpur), Subodh Kant Sahai (Ranchi) and others could join their leader in the well, SP MPs Neeraj Shekhar (Ballia) and Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh (Gonda) came in between Yashvir and Gandhi. In the melee, Shekhar claimed, Yashvir also received two blows from Muttemawar.
In between Yashbir tossed the copy of the Bill to Shekar, who in turn lobbed it towards Opposition benches. Other SP MPs then picked it up and tore it into pieces.
Speaker Meira Kumar immediately adjourned the House for the day. An agitated Sonia rushed to Meira Kumar’s chamber behind the Speaker’s chair, and returned immediately. But the commotion persisted until RJD chief Lalu Prasad intervened and persuaded the SP members to walk out of the House.
Shailendra Kumar (Kaushambi) and other SP MPs dashed to the Lok Sabha television’s office to get a footage of the proceedings, but they were denied access. The Lok Sabha TV did not telecast the incident involving Sonia and the SP MPs. Other TV channels, who entirely depend on Lok Sabha TV for coverage of the House proceedings could not show it too.
After the adjournment, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamala Nath, who was not present during the unsavoury incident, returned to the House and was seen pacifying Mulayam Singh Yadav and other SP MPs.
At this point of time, BJP MPs Hukumdeo Naryan Yadav, Yogi Adityanath, Nishikant Dubey and JD(U) MP Rajiv Ranajan Singh Lallan were heard accusing Sonia of attacking the SP MP.
The incident was followed by charges and countercharges between SP and the Congress leaders. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav held a meeting of party MPs in Parliament and later told the reporters that he was outraged over his MP being insulted.
“All of you have seen what happened and who did what. This is condemnable. There cannot be any justification of the treatment meted out to our leader. Footage of the proceedings has been deleted,” Yadav told reporters without naming Gandhi.
He reiterated opposition to the quota in promotion Bill and said SP was ready to face any consequences for this. Mulayam did not respond to questions whether his party would withdraw support to the UPA after the Wednesday incident. SP MPs will hold another meeting on Thursday morning to discuss strategy for the last day of
the Winter Session of the
Lok Sabha.
Muttemwar denied that he hit Yashvir in the melee. “This incident only shows the attitude of SP towards Dalits. BJP’s allegation that Congress attacked the SP member is only adding fuel to fire. If the Minister is under attack, is it not our duty to protect him?” he asked.
His arguments found little support from the BJP, which termed the behaviour of Gandhi and other UPA MPs as condemnable. “UPA chairperson and her MPs have lowered the dignity of Parliament and democracy. This is highly condemnable. Gandhi must apologies for her behaviour,” BJP leader Gopinath Munde, Nishikant Dubey and Ganesh Singh said.
Harsimrat Kaur (SAD) also condemned the role of the Treasury Benches in the whole episode. “Is this the way the ruling party chief should behave? She (Gandhi) grabbed the Bill from a SC member. This is the first time that I have seen a member holding the collar of another MP while another member tried to box him,” she said. Kaur alleged that the clipping of the incident is not being shown on the channel and has been deliberately deleted.
Unfazed by SP’s strong protest, Government termed the incident as deplorable and a sad day for parliamentary democracy. Kamal Nath claimed that the Government will on Thursday take up the quota Bill in the Lok Sabha for discussion and passage.
The Minister said that he would urge the Speaker to take action against the SP member. He said that since Sonia Gandhi was closest to the spot where the snatching incident occurred she merely asked the member to return the papers.
“The incident is highly deplorable. Never in my 32-year experience in the Lok Sabha, I have seen such an incident where a political party disagrees and uses methods which disrespects Parliament and abuses parliamentary processes. It is a sad day for parliamentary democracy,” Nath said and added that the difference of opinion should be reflected through debate and vote and not through such frustrated action.
However, Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury sang a different tune saying that her party tries to keep good relations with all parties which also have democratic right to do what they want to do and are accountable for their conduct.
http://dailypioneer.com/nation/116799-quota-standoff-turns-physical.html