The Hindu : National : Clash in House shocks Somnath

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Wednesday, Mar 14, 2007
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National

National

Clash in House shocks Somnath

Special Correspondent

Tells CPI (M) members in his chamber that their behaviour was a shame

NEW DELHI: The fracas in the Lok Sabha between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam members on Tuesday came as a "shock" to Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

He could not believe that "his own party" members had walked into the well of the House and behaved in a manner not consistent with the dignity of the House.

It seems that initially when he adjourned the House for 10 minutes after the CPI (M) and DMK members clashed over the introduction of the Indian Maritime University Bill, 2007, he was confident of sorting out the issue.

He reportedly told CPI (M) members Rupchand Pal and Basudev Acharya in his chamber that their behaviour was a "shame" and they should know that they should not oppose the bill at the introduction stage.

The differences should have been sorted out at the standing committee after the bill is sent there, he is understood to have told them.

The Speaker also told the CPI (M) members that they had misbehaved and he could not remember another incident when the party had behaved in this manner.

However, when the House met again, he was in for a shock as the ugly situation forced him to adjourn the House again.

Heated exchanges

Later, when some CPI (M) members and Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee exchanged hot words in his chamber, Mr. Chatterjee is believed to have told them that he could not be a party to their meeting to sort out their differences.

Yechury `s initiative

Rajya Sabha MP and CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury then went to Mr. Mukherjee's room where the differences were sorted out.

It is reported that angry exchanges between the Government and the CPI (M) took place in Mr. Mukherjee's room, with one party member charging the Government with "pushing the Bill silently" and "making changes" contrary to an earlier understanding.

Left leaders' charge

Some Left leaders said Ministers from Tamil Nadu had shifted several projects from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu and this was "height of parochialism," which should not be tolerated.

Later, the matter was sorted out with leaders of both the CPI (M) and the DMK expressing their regret for the ugly scenes in the morning. Apparently, some changes in the bill have been agreed upon.

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