By IANS,
New Delhi : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh, Maneka Gandhi Wednesday complained that Minister of State for Environment and Forests Namo Narain Meena never answered her questions in the Lok Sabha.
“I would much rather have the prime minister answer my question. This minister never answers the question (put to him),” Gandhi told Speaker Somnath Chatterjee. She had a query on the government plans for hybrid vehicles meant to control pollution.
Meena was aghast at the statement but gathered his wits.
Chatterjee placated Gandhi and said: “This is not fair. We should have respect for each other.”
Nevertheless, Gandhi was not satisfied with the reply that Meena gave in the house and expressed her displeasure.
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I want to do some publicity, says speaker
Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee told the house during a discussion on vocational institutes that he ran one such institute and wanted publicity for it.
The house, during question hour, was of the opinion that there was a need for more vocational courses and institutes as the demand was increasing by the day. Agreeing with this thought, Chatterjee said: “I want to seek some publicity. I started a vocational institute sometime back with 22 students. Now there are 206 students. This shows the demand.”
Chatterjee told the house: “MPLAD (MP Local Area Development) fund ko idhar udhar ki jagah, isme lagaaiye (instead of putting your MPLAD fund in other ventures, spend it on vocational institutes).”
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RPI MP entertains Lok Sabha
Ramdas Athawale, the lone MP from the Republican Party of India (RPI), never fails to make his presence felt in the Lok Sabha. He stands out not only because of his colourful shirts but also his histrionics.
The Pandharpur MP is known for laughing loudly at his own jokes while others try to gather what he said in his strong Marathi accent.
Earlier, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee was liberal in allowing Athawale an opportunity to speak, but is now wary of giving him a chance.
Chatterjee Wednesday said in the house that he was inviting an MP who was not a doctor to put a question to Health Minister A. Ramadoss. While Chatterjee meant Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Ram Kripal Yadav, Athawale got to his feet even before the speaker finished and started asking a question.
Later he put a question to a minister and told him: “Iska jaldi se jawab de (reply to this question quickly).”
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Jairam Ramesh enjoys self in the house
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jairam Ramesh thoroughly enjoyed himself in the Lok Sabha Wednesday.
Not one to sit still or be quiet for long, Ramesh kept himself amused throughout. He looked up at the press gallery and repeatedly pointed with his eyes towards Shipping, Transport and Highways Minister T.R. Baalu, who is in the eye of a storm for seeking favours for his sons’ companies.
He then gesticulated to CPM leader Mohammad Salim about Baalu who was sitting a little away.
While the house was busy with questions, Ramesh chatted with M.S. Gill, Praful Patel and others.
In between, he fished out a chewing gum from his bag and had it.
At one point, when Health Minister A. Ramdoss was asked a question by an MP from Tamil Nadu, Ramesh loudly said: “Tamil Nadu ka mamla hai, sir.”