NEW DELHI: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha on Friday said every member of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) strongly "endorses every word" written by the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in his letter to Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on August 8 rejecting his appeal to the Opposition to participate in the proceedings.

Responding to the Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee's statement expressing the "deep anguish'' of non-NDA parties at the tone and contents of the letter, Mr. Advani said he was in "strong disagreement" with it [Mr. Mukherjee's statement]. Maintaining that no aspersion had been cast and no reflection made on any one person, he wondered how it could be construed as disrespect. "It is a sage advice of a senior statesman to the presiding officer of the House"... and the letter "is a guidance for all of us," he said by way of explanation.

In his statement, Mr. Mukherjee said: "By casting aspersions on the impartiality in the official conduct of the Speaker, it [the letter] casts a deep, dark shadow on the entire House and the democratic values that it cherishes and has nourished over decades.'' Further, according to him, the letter was more painful because it "emanates from the pen of a person who has himself struggled to uphold the dignity of the House over several decades and is known for his commitment to parliamentary values."

Mr. Mukherjee's statement and Mr. Advani's response — billed by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi as an effort to break the impasse — came after the House was adjourned in the morning for an hour as both sides clashed over the letter for the second consecutive day. Basudeb Acharia (Communist Party of India-Marxist) sought suspension of Question Hour on the issue but the Speaker disallowed it.

After the two leaders spoke, members of other parties — particularly the CPI(M) — wanted to have their say since the NDA had not expressed regret for casting aspersions on the Chair. Urging members not to prolong "this painful chapter," Mr. Chatterjee sought to close the "episode" by stating that "if you want to say something, say so outside."

Earlier in the day, the Speaker's office received four notices of privilege against Mr. Vajpayee from Adhir Chowdhury, Rajesh Mishra and Dawa Narbula (Congress) and D. P. Yadav (Rashtriya Janata Dal). In fact, during backroom parleys, when Mr. Advani insisted on reading out Mr. Vajpayee's letter in the House, Mr. Dasmunsi — who along with other leaders were keen that it does not become part of Parliamentary record — pointed out that if there was any case fit for a privilege motion, it was this letter.

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