The Hindu : National : BJP, Sena question Speaker's suggestion

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Sunday, Feb 27, 2005

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National

BJP, Sena question Speaker's suggestion

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 26. The Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies, especially the Shiv Sena, today questioned the manner in which the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Somnath Chatterjee, suggested to the ruling benches that they should bring a motion for suspension of Sena MPs.

After the BJP members walked out of the Lok Sabha ahead of presentation of the Railway Budget — they were protesting saying that the Budget should be presented by someone else as the Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav, faced criminal charges — the Shiv Sena members took a minute or two to follow them out and made considerable noise as they did so. This prompted the Speaker to say that if they failed to stop disturbing the House proceedings he would not hesitate to suspend them.

When he threatened to name some of the Sena MPs, one of them was heard retorting loudly. At this point an infuriated Speaker turned to the treasury benches and said: "why don't you bring a motion ... ''

Later, the BJP spokesperson, V.K. Malhotra, told reporters that his party took strong exception to the manner in which the Speaker suggested to the ruling party to bring forward a motion asking for suspension of Shiv Sena members. "It is not his job to suggest that a motion be brought,'' Mr. Malhotra added, saying that at some point his party would like to discuss this matter with the Speaker.

"The Sena wants us to call a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance to discuss this,'' Mr. Malhotra disclosed.

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