The Hindu : Front Page : Speaker to stop pre-session meeting with party leaders

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Sunday, Nov 05, 2006
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Speaker to stop pre-session meeting with party leaders

Special Correspondent

No reason given by the Speaker's office

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, who initiated the practice of holding meetings with leaders of various political parties in batches ahead of the Parliament session, has decided to do away with it.

The decision comes close on the heels of his earlier decision to stop holding the regular meeting with floor leaders. These meetings Mr. Chatterjee used to host were meant to ensure the smooth functioning of the House.

Sources in the Speaker's Office told The Hindu on Saturday, that besides the all-party customary lunch before the session, Mr. Chatterjee would not hold any other breakfast, lunch or dinner meeting. The winter session of Parliament will begin on November 22.

Though no reason has been given, it is apparent that the stand-off between the BJP-led Opposition and the Speaker during the monsoon session has something to do with it. The BJP-led Opposition decided to stay away from the proceedings of the House, protesting against the transaction of Government business amid the demand of breach of privilege against the UPA Government for leakage of the Justice Pathak Commission of Inquiry in the Iraqi oil-for-food issue.

Mr. Chatterjee wrote to the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, urging the Opposition to reconsider its stand. While rejecting it, Mr. Vajpayee questioned the impartially of the Chair stating that: ``all sections of the National Democratic Alliance feel deeply disappointed at the manner in which the House is being presently run. I may add that confidence in one's fairness and objectivity has to be commanded; it cannot be demanded.''

The letter drew sharp reactions from the Government, the allies and supporting parties who expressed anguish at the tone of the letter.

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