The Hindu : National : Somnath's offer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006

National

National

Somnath's offer

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI : The recent disciplinary action by Parliament in expelling 11 MPs following the "cash-for-questions" scandal came up for brief discussion when Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon called on Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee here on Tuesday.

Mr. McKinnon showed interest in knowing the details of the action taken.

Mr. McKinnon, a former Minister in the Government of New Zealand, narrated a similar instance from Zimbabwe where a person was punished by the House for indiscipline. The Court of Law there refused to intervene in the matter as it pertained to a decision taken by the legislative body, a Lok Sabha Secretariat release quoted Mr. McKinnon as saying.

Welcoming Mr. McKinnon, Mr. Chatterjee offered to help parliamentary institutions in Commonwealth countries through training programmes organised by the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training of the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

Mr. McKinnon wished India all success in hosting the Conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association next year and the Conference of Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers in 2010, the release said.

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