The Hindu : National : RS panel too lets off Sen

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Tuesday, Nov 27, 2007
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National

RS panel too lets off Sen

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha Privileges Committee on Monday decided to put the lid on the controversy over the “headless chicken” remark of Ambassador to the United States Ronen Sen, recommending closure of the issue.

On the lines of the Lok Sabha Privileges Committee, the Rajya Sabha committee too decided to close the issue as Mr. Sen had tendered unconditional and sincere apologies. “In view of Mr. Sen’s acceptance of having made the remarks and accepting that the same were unwarranted, and [he] having tendered an unconditional apology, the committee recommends the matter be allowed to rest here,” the panel, headed by Deputy Chairman K. Rehman Khan, said in its report tabled in the House.

The panel noted Mr. Sen’s admission that it was certainly not his intention to cast aspersions or call into question the motives of MPs. It, however, felt his remarks were not only in poor taste but also unwarranted. It said no issue of breach of privilege could be made out with regard to the envoy’s comment on senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha.

Noting that in a democracy there would always be dissensions and divergence of opinion and everyone was legitimately entitled to have a point of view on a sensitive issue, the report said the personal frame of mind should not have influenced public utterances of a senior and experienced diplomat. “The committee expects that such lapses, as admitted by him, shall not recur,” it said.

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