National   

Did not abstain for fun: Shatrughan Sinha

New Delhi Dec 16. Faced with complaints from MPs about his absence from Parliament, the Health Minister, Shatrughan Sinha, today told the Lok Sabha that he does not stay away for ``fun'' but for ``official work''.

``If I am away from the House it is with the permission of the Chair and the Prime Minister,'' he said. Giving a personal clarification during a calling attention motion on non-availability of medicines in CGHS dispensaries, causing hardships to serving and retired government employees among others.

``I do not absent myself from Parliament for fun. If I am away, it is on official work,''Mr. Sinha said in response to allegations by MPs that the film star-turned politician is busy shooting movies.

In a bid to mollify Mr. Sinha, the CPI(M) leader, Somnath Chatterjee, told him not to be ``so touchy''. — PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Entertainment | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Parliament nod for Freedom of Information Bill
• Cong. yet to come to terms with poll debacle
• Left concerned over BJP's aggressive communal posture
• A victory for nationalist forces: RSS
• Walkout in NCERT meet over textbook row
• Trade Unions ask PM to reverse privatisation of oil PSUs
• Law planned to regulate places of worship
• President's assent to bill on right to education
• Free phone service for children in distress
• Police yet to establish identity of LeT militants
• Pak. denial not credible: India
• 'Action taken against 39 recruiting agencies'
• Final results of CDSE announced
• BJP national executive postponed
• Did not abstain for fun: Shatrughan Sinha
• Rat as food: SC notice to Centre, T.N.
• Be humble in victory, Advani tells partymen

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu