Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday had a run-in with the CPI(M) in the Rajya Sabha over an interjection by one of its members and deftly deflected criticism by the Left parties over the government’s disinvestment policy.
Mr. Mukherjee lost his temper during question hour when Brinda Karat (CPI-M) interjected even as the Minister was responding to supplementaries from her party colleague Sitaram Yechury on price rise.
Ms. Karat’s move to ask a question on sugar prices angered Mr. Mukherjee who suddenly sat down, putting his papers on the desk and stating he would not accept such an approach.
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“I will not accept… do not show temper, if you want to show go outside [the House]” he told Ms. Karat saying that she was not even listed to ask questions.
He said no one should interject and said members should allow him to complete his response.
This led to Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari observing that such practice of interjecting while one member is speaking should be avoided.
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He said it was not only rude but also a waste of precious time of question hour.