Controversial remarks by two members paralysed Parliament today leading to two adjournments each of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha with an angry opposition demanding an apology from them.
Mani Shankar Aiyar (Congress) in the Rajya Sabha and Sudip Bandyopadhyay (Trinamool Congress) stirred a hornet’s nest by their remarks which the opposition found were objectionable.
The turmoil continued despite Speaker Meira Kumar strongly reprimanding Mr. Bandyopadhyay in Lok Sabha.
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Mr. Bandyopadhyay is in the eye of a storm for his remarks against a CPI(M) member from West Bengal in the backdrop of the motormen’s strike in Mumbai.
“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,” Ms. Kumar said.
In the Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan told Aiyar, “If a member is hurt by anybody there is nothing wrong in saying sorry.”
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Mr. Aiyar had targetted leader of the opposition Arun Jaitely in the Rajya Sabha two days back and the storm has not yet subsided with the BJP adamant on an apology from the member whose maiden speech has created the controversy.
Both Mr. Aiyar and Mr. Bandyopadhyay were present in the respective Houses but gave no signs to make amends.
Soon after Lok Sabha met for the day, the Speaker made her observations reprimanding Mr. Bandyopadhyay. The House was adjourned as AIADMK members stormed the well on the issue of 2G spectrum allocation.