The Hindu : National : Criticism of Somnath not in good taste: Gowda

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Thursday, Aug 10, 2006

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Criticism of Somnath not in good taste: Gowda

Special Correspondent

Says sanctity of Chair should be preserved at all costs

H. D. Deve Gowda

BANGALORE: The former Prime Minister, H. D. Deve Gowda, has said that criticism of Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee by some Opposition MPs was not in good taste and it did not augur well for a Parliamentary democracy.

Not a `healthy sign'

Mr. Gowda told presspersons here on Wednesday that the "disrespect" shown to the Speaker was not a "healthy sign." The sanctity of the Chair should be preserved and it was one of the foremost duties of all members, be it MPs or those of State Legislatures. It was not the first time that such an incident had taken place in Parliament. The former President, Shankar Dayal Sharma, was attacked when he was Vice-President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He had walked out of the House in tears when he had to face a similar problem.

On Vajpayee's letter

Referring to the letter written by the former Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, to the Speaker, Mr. Gowda said: " Mr. Vajpayee is one of the seniormost parliamentarians of the country; one of the tallest political leaders and a statesman." He had been pained by the contents of the letter. It should be remembered that all those institutions (Parliament and the presiding office therein) were constitutional bodies.

Mr. Gowda, who is a member of the Lok Sabha from Hassan, said that MPs should introspect and refrain from attacking the Speaker whatever be the circumstances. Members should observe restraint.

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