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Saturday, Jun 05, 2004

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National

Somnath Chatterjee calls for acrimony-free atmosphere

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW ROLE, NEW PERSPECTIVE: Somnath Chatterjee coming out of Parliament House on Friday after he was unanimously elected Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Mr. Chatterjee, the first leader from a Left party to chair the House, said members should conduct themselves in such a manner that they would no longer be subjected to "ridicule." — PTI

New Delhi. June 4. The veteran parliamentarian, Somnath Chatterjee, was today unanimously elected Speaker of the 14th Lok Sabha. His name was proposed by the United Progressive Alliance and won the backing of the National Democratic Alliance and all major political parties in the House. Prominent among those who proposed his name were Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sharad Pawar, Laloo Prasad Yadav, Ram Gopal Yadav and the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati.

The pro tem Speaker, Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil, declared Mr. Chatterjee elected after the House adopted by voice vote all the 18 motions moved in his favour. This is the first time in Parliament's history that a Left party member has become Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Mr. Chatterjee received a standing ovation from the entire House as he was escorted to the Speaker's chair by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, the Leader of the House, Pranab Mukherjee, and the Leader of the Opposition, L.K. Advani. His wife, Renu Chatterjee, and daughters, Anuradha and Anushila, witnessed the proceedings from the Speakers gallery.

Mr. Chatterjee came in for wholesome praise from all sections in the House. Dr. Singh, Mr. Vajpayee, Ms. Gandhi, Mr. Advani, the former Prime Ministers, Chandra Shekhar and H.D. Deve Gowda, and leaders of all the political parties recalled his qualities of head and heart and promised to extend their cooperation to him.

Responding to the felicitations, Mr. Chatterjee pointed out that the behaviour and conduct of some members had become the subject of "justified criticism" and in some cases even "ridicule." He called on the members to try and change this perception.

Underlining the need for Parliament to function in an atmosphere free from bitterness and acrimony, Mr. Chatterjee said this would be possible if all the members respected the rules well-established conventions. Both the Treasury and the Opposition benches had an equal responsibility in ensuring good governance, he said and called on both sides to be "accommodating and forbearing towards each other."

Mr. Chatterjee made it clear that as far as he was concerned he would be totally objective and judicious while regulating the proceedings. "I shall always try to protect the rights and the privileges of the House and its members, irrespective of their political affiliations. To me all the members have the same status and are entitled to the same facilities irrespective of the parties to which they belong."

Earlier, Dr. Singh emphasised the need "to recapture the high noon of idealism, which inspired our freedom struggle." Describing Mr. Chatterjee as the "friend, philosopher and guide of the House," Dr. Singh said that his work as a parliamentarian had been a "tremendous inspiration for many of us". He recited Rabindranath Tagore's poem "Where the mind is without fear," and expressed the hope that under Mr. Chatterjee's guidance the House would live up to the high ideals embodied in the poem.

Congratulating the new Speaker, Mr. Vajpayee recalled their days together in the Opposition benches. "You played a stellar role in upholding the prestige of the House and in keeping the government on its toes."

Ms. Gandhi in her speech praised a "much respected colleague whose counsel my party and I have sought and valued ". By honouring Mr. Chatterjee, the House was reaffirming "its deep and abiding faith in the best traditions of India and her diversity." The CPP chairperson said that as a member Mr. Chatterjee had elevated the proceedings but now in his new position "he would have to speak less and listen more." She also described him as "a thoroughly modern man steeped in tradition. Rooted in ideology but wedded to pragmatism".

Mr. Advani reminded the Speaker that it was his duty to ensure that the Opposition had its say, "as the Government with its majority would always have its way."

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