By IANS,
New Delhi : Day four of the week and not a single question taken up. On Thursday, when disruptions in the Lok Sabha were again the order of the day, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee had had enough and said in an emotional outburst that he was on his way out but the institution should remain and “democracy be strengthened”.
Chatterjee lashed out at the MPs at 11 a.m. soon after the day’s proceedings began. Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Basudeb Acharya began the day by getting up to draw the chair’s attention towards a notice given by him.
After repeated interruptions, the speaker took control of the house and said: “Please show a little respect. This has become the fashion nowadays. If you think that you are strengthening the cause of democracy, it is for you to decide. I am on my way out. Do not think that it will influence me. The house should remain.”
“I am not aspirant for anything… personally you can take it that I am out, for all purposes. But I want this institution, which I am associated with for nearly 40 years, to remain… I am going back with lot of pain and agony from this house, but I want this house to remain, this house to function and democracy should be strengthened.”
A visibly agitated Chatterjee said about the repeated adjournments of the house: “Today is the fourth day of this week. We have not had even one question taken up; not a single matter could be taken up or discussed; you have very important matters.”
He asked the parliamentarians to introspect.
“Every day, one second past 11 a.m, the commotion starts; I am making repeated appeals. If there is anything called truth, please go through it and bear me out. I will allow all subjects to be discussed.”
Recalling his promise to house leaders that he would allow five important matters to be discussed in the house, the speaker challenged his opponents and asked: “Can anybody show that I deliberately did not allow any matter which could be raised.”
“Naturally, I will be targeted, but I do not mind,” he said.
“My only reply is, please do some introspection. Please consider yourself, whether all of us are contributing to the functioning of this house. If I am wrong, you can show me.”