The Hindu : National : Somnath disapproves of call to disrupt Orissa House

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Friday, Nov 30, 2007
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Somnath disapproves of call to disrupt Orissa House

Special Correspondent

BJD complains against Union Minister’s letter

Minister wrote in his capacity as party in-charge: Somnath
Speaker pulls up Paswan, Dinsha Patel for absence

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Thursday expressed his disapproval of a Union Minister asking Orissa Congress legislators to disrupt Assembly proceedings until an issue raised by the party was allowed.

He was intervening during a mention by Arjun Charan Sethi (Biju Janata Dal), who said the Union Minister had written to Congress MLAs asking them not to allow the Assembly to function until the party had its way. As a result, Mr. Sethi said, the proceedings had been disrupted for several days now.

When members from Orissa insisted on a ruling from him, Mr. Chatterjee said he had already expressed his displeasure.

At the same time, he pointed out that the Minister had written the letter in his capacity as party in-charge of the State.

The BJD sought to raise the issue on Wednesday also but it was not allowed as a proper notice had not been given. In protest, they picketed the well of the House.

Though the BJD was allowed to raise the issue on Thursday, the Speaker did not allow Mr. Sethi to table the Minister’s letter.

Mr. Chatterjee pulled up Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dinsha Patel for being absent without informing the Chair on a day when business was listed against their names.

As colleagues in the Council of Ministers stepped in for them, the Speaker said: “This is the last time I will allow this. Ministers should show minimum courtesy to the Chair and at least inform him of their absence.”

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