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Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007
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Turmoil over envoy’s remarks

New Delhi Bureau

Opposition, Left seek Ronen Sen’s recall

NEW DELHI: Proceedings in Parliament were disrupted for the whole day on Tuesday as Left parties joined the Opposition benches in protesting against the reported remarks by India’s Ambassador to the United States, Ronen Sen, in an interview to Rediff India Abroad on the political turmoil over the nuclear deal with Washington.

Though External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee came out with a clarification — coupled with an expression of regret — in the morning and the envoy tendered an “unqualified” apology by afternoon, there was no let-up in the Opposition and Left’s demand for his recall. They also submitted privilege notices against Mr. Sen.

Mr. Mukherjee, in the clarification to both Houses, said: “These comments, if made by our Ambassador, and reported correctly, are totally unwarranted and unacceptable. In a democracy, there will always be dissension and divergence of opinions. Noone can accuse others who hold divergent views. I regret the alleged comments which have hurt the members’ feelings.”

The Minister made the clarification after he contacted Mr. Sen. The envoy told him that “certain comments, either deliberately or through misunderstanding, were published by the correspondent.” Mr. Mukherjee said the Ambassador was “misquoted in several respects” and he was asked to issue a clarification.

Mr. Sen’s apology came post-lunch — again read out by Mr. Mukherjee in both Houses.

Admitting that his comment “running around like headless chicken, looking for a comment here or comment there,” was a tactless observation, Mr. Sen said it was a reference to some of his media friends and not to any Member of Parliament. “It was certainly not my intention to cast an aspersion on any individual or organisation. Some of the comments attributed to me in this off-the-record conversation were, however, made by me in my personal capacity and do not reflect the positions of the government.”

Mr. Sen conceded that such personal views, even in a private conversation, should have been expressed with better judgment and due decorum. The apology, Mr. Mukherjee’s clarification and Speaker Somnath Chatterjee’s promise that he would take action if Mr. Sen had made the remarks did not pacify the agitated members, and the Lok Sabha adjourned for the day within minutes post lunch. Intervening, Leader of the Opposition L. K. Advani said the government should make available a transcript of the interview.

In the Rajya Sabha, the first adjournment came minutes after the House assembled. At noon, Mr. Mukherjee read out the clarification. This was followed by Leader of the Opposition Jaswant Singh and Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) decrying the comments.

Yashwant Sinha (BJP), named by the Ambassador as one of those who objected to the deal, wanted Mr. Sen and the correspondent summoned to the House. “I have been shown to be not just a headless chicken but a brainless one too,” he said.

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