The Hindu : Front Page : Fernandes remarks cause uproar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 18, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Fernandes remarks cause uproar

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Treasury benches are likely to make a move to formally condemn in Parliament the statement made on Thursday — and reiterated on Friday — by National Democratic Alliance convener George Fernandes against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha witnessed several adjournments on the issue as the Treasury benches rose to demand an apology and the filing of an FIR against Mr. Fernandes.

Outside the House, a senior Congress Minister said “criminal proceedings” could be launched against Mr. Fernandes for the statement that said the Prime Minister had “betrayed the nation” by “continuous bluffing” on the nuclear deal.

Mr. Fernandes had said: “If it were the United States, their House would have thrown out and disgraced the President if he had acted as Manmohan Singh. If it were China, they would have settled it with one bullet in his head.”

“Unfortunate”

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi described Mr. Fernandes’ remarks as “unfortunate and uncivilised” while pointing out that far from apologising he had reiterated his remarks on Friday. “This was not only bad for Parliament and democracy, but was encouraging those forces which are creating a security situation in the country.”

When it was pointed out that Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj had defended the remarks by categorically stating that the NDA does not condemn his statement, Mr. Dasmunsi said: “As and when the entire House condemns the remarks [by Mr. Fernandes], Ms. Swaraj will get my answer.”

Adjourned twice

The Lok Sabha adjourned twice on Friday on this issue, as did the Rajya Sabha. Treasury members were up on their feet demanding an apology from Mr. Fernandes, a member of the Lok Sabha, who sat quietly through the furore.

The matter was raised just before the lunch break in the Lok Sabha by Mr. Dasmunsi who “condemned” the remarks and asked Mr. Fernandes to apologise or withdraw from the House.

Mr. Dasmunsi said remarks like the ones reportedly made by Mr. Fernandes were provocative and could incite “extremists” while suggesting that any “mentally sound person” should apologise to the House drawing a sharp reaction from the Opposition.

When members sought the Speaker’s intervention, Mr. Chatterjee said since the remarks had been made outside the House, he had no jurisdiction over it. He could not compel any member to apologise.

“It is for the member to decide. All I can say is that members should respect the highest dignitary of the country.”

In the continuing din, the Speaker adjourned the House for 45 minutes. When the House met again, continued protests by Congress members forced another adjournment.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page