Agitated over the repeated “offensive’’ remarks of Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on the floor of the House, members of 12 Opposition parties gathered in the Congress office in Parliament House on Thursday determined to force an apology from him in the Lok Sabha.
Though these parties have been coordinating their actions on various issues in the 16th Lok Sabha through decisions taken by party leaders, this is the first time such a mobilisation of Opposition members took place outside the House. The possibility of the Opposition disrupting the Railway Budget Speech at a time when the government is already facing resistance on contentious Bills saw the Minister yield.
Though he did not apologise in as many words, his “suo motu’’ statement that he had no intention of hurting any member was accepted with some reluctance by the Opposition; albeit after forcing an adjournment on the issue.
The early morning meeting in the Congress office was convened in accordance with a decision taken by party leaders on Wednesday evening after they walked out of the Lok Sabha in protest against Mr. Naidu’s jibes at their insignificant numerical strength in the House. According to TMC leader Saugata Roy, it was decided that if the Minister did not yield, then the Opposition would disrupt the Railway Minister’s key speech.
Mr. Naidu told the Opposition that he had no intention of hurting anyone’s sentiments. “There was nothing unparliamentary in what I said.’’
