The Hindu : Speaker's reference modified to include the Mahatma's name

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Sunday, Feb 01, 2004

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Speaker's reference modified to include the Mahatma's name

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JAN. 31. The Lok Sabha Speaker, Manohar Joshi, has modified the text of the obituary reference read out on the occasion of Martyr's Day on Friday, to include the name of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Almost the entire Opposition had walked out of the House to register its protest over the omission.

In a statement issued this evening, the Lok Sabha Secretariat pointed out that on Friday itself the Speaker had made it clear in the House, that the day was known as Martyr's Day "only because of Mahatma Gandhi."

The statement pointed out that even the reference that was read out on Friday was similar to that made on three other occasions when the House had met on January 30. "The Reference that was read out was similar to the Reference made in 1976,1980, and 1985."

On each of these occasions the Speaker belonged to the Congress. In 1976 it was Bali Ram Bhagat, while in 1980 and 1985 Balram Jhakhar was the Speaker.

The modified text of the reference by the Speaker now read as follows:

"Hon'ble Members, today is the Martyrdom Day of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, which is also observed as Martyr's Day. Let us join the nation in paying our homage to the Father of the Nation and all other Martyrs."

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