20 Feb : A day after his angry outburst against some MPs for disrupting Lok Sabha proceedings, a regretful Speaker Somnath Chatterjee withdrew his critical remarks, saying he had made these in "little frustration".
The 79-year-old Chatterjee, who frequently vents his anger on unruly behaviour of members in the House, was on Friday soft on the members as he extended good wishes to them, reversing Thursday’s wish that they do not get re-elected.
"Yesterday, I made some comments out of little frustration. I want all of you, who were standing here, to come back if people support you," he said in the House on Friday addressing the members whom he had rebuked.
As soon as the House met on Friday, RJD’s Ram Kripal Yadav politely told the Speaker that he had cursed the members yesterday that they should not get re-elected and that he should withdraw it by pardoning them. Several other members joined Yadav in making the plea.
Chatterjee, while pointing out that he had made the comments against those members who were protesting, said he was ready to pardon them if they behaved well.
The Speaker was very annoyed on Thursday when members of the BSP, BJP, TDP, RPI, PMK and MDMK stormed the Well of the House, raising slogans against the government on several issues."I am at ease because I am not contesting. I know you are aggrieved but I have my good wishes for everyone," the Speaker told the members on Friday.
He, however, told the members that since they had been sent by people to represent them for five years in Parliament, they would not like to tolerate such behaviour of theirs.
When TDP’s Yerran Naidu wanted to raise some matter, Chatterjee told him to be patient and tolerate him for an hour like people had been tolerating the MPs for five years. At the same time, he wondered how people tolerate MPs who do not behave.
"Sometimes I get exasperated and say something … I have withdrawn (my words) today and wished them best of luck," Chatterjee later told reporters outside Parliament.
Displaying his displeasure on Thursday, Chatterjee had said "I hope that all of you are defeated in the election… I hope the people will give their verdict properly. You have to be taught a lesson."
In his anger, he even said Parliament should be adjourned sine die because of the members’ behaviour.
BSP members were creating uproar, accusing the UPA government of "being anti-Dalit" and alleging it had "ignored" the backward classes in a new draft legislation on universities introduced in the House.
BJP members joined them on the same issue, while members of PMK and MDMK trooped into the Well demanding that the government make efforts to "stop war" in Sri
Lanka. TDP members were also seen raising the Satyam issue.Even while pardoning the errant members, Chatterjee said he was pained to see his frequent appeals to them to behave well go in vain.
"I made appeals several times but I am very pained that the appeals did not work," he remarked.Chatterjee’s comments invited criticism from former Vice Chairperson of Rajya Sabha Najma Heptullah, who defended the members’ right to protest in the House, wondering where else would they agitate.
Chatterjee, however, maintained that even when political tensions rise, it is not proper to stall the functioning of the House and MPs must behave in a dignified way."That’s why I made so many appeals. This (Parliament) is the highest institution in parliamentary democracy. This is a symbol of democracy. The laws of the country are made here. From here the country is governed," he added.
Asked whether he hopes that his appeals would have any impact in future, Chatterjee said, "I hope so. I wish luck to my successor."
Somnath pained at members not responding to his appeals
After strongly criticising MPs of several parties for their behaviour in Parliament on Thursday, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has said he was pained to see his frequent appeals to members to behave well go in vain.
"I made appeals several times but I am very pained that the appeals did not work," Chatterjee said when asked to comment on why the MPs don’t behave in a dignified manner in the House, when the entire country is watching them.
"You do not deserve one paisa of public money," an angry Speaker Somnath Chatterjee had said on Thursday when members of several political parties stormed the Well of Lok Sabha raising a spate of issues and disrupted Question Hour.
Angered by the members’ behaviour, Chatterjee had said "you are behaving in the most condemnable manner and added that he hoped that the people of the country will give a "fit verdict" in the coming elections.
Chatterjee’s comments on Friday invited criticism from the former Vice Chairman of Rajya Sabha Najma Heptullah, who said, "presiding officer’s role in the house is like a referee in the match and not of a player."
Chatterjee, however, maintained that even when political tension happens…to stall the functioning of the House is not good.
"Sometimes I get exasperated and say something..I have withdrawn (my words) today and wished them best of luck," Somnath Chatterjee said when reminded of his reprimand to the MPs on Thursday.
He, however, remarked that the MPs should definitely behave in a dignified way.
"That’s why I made so many appeals. This (Parliament) is the highest institution in parliamentary democracy. This is a symbol of democracy. The laws of the country are made here. From here the country is governed," he added.
Virtually putting a question before the MPs, Chatterjee said, "When you get a chance to work, you do not work. What benefits all this do?"
Asked whether he hopes that his appeals would have any impact in future, Chatterjee said, "I hope so. I wish luck to my successor."
Questioned whether a ban should be put on internet sites showing objectionable MMSes, the Lok Sabha Speaker said "It is difficult to put a ban in democracy but such incidents should not happen."