The Hindu : National : Left MPs from West Bengal protest ‘neglect’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Left MPs from West Bengal protest ‘neglect’

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Friends turned foes in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday as members of Left parties from West Bengal vociferously protested the “neglect” of the State in the Railway budget and staged a walkout.

The protest capped the chorus of disgruntlement that rose in the House an hour and a half into Railway Minister Lalu Prasad’s speech, drowning his announcements on reduction in passenger fares.

Mr. Prasad was quick to show his disappointment over what he called an effort to steal his thunder. “If they are upset with some of the announcements, they could have brought it up at the discussion stage,” the Minister said as he signed off after holding the fort for 110 minutes.While it was smooth sailing for the Minister for a greater part of his speech, trouble began towards the fag end when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members from Gujarat rose in one voice to protest the manner in which their State had been ignored. This set off a chain reaction.

First, individual members like Avtar Singh Bhadana (Congress) and Raj Babbar (Samajwadi Party) gave vent to their disappointment. Thereafter, a gradual State-wise exodus began in the Opposition ranks with Shiv Sena members from Maharashtra raising a slew of demands even as BJP MPs of Madhya Pradesh started a parallel protest. In between, smaller groups such as the Telugu Desam Party could be seen trying to get their voice heard through the din.

Repeated warnings from Speaker Somnath Chatterjee that he would ask the Minister to table the remaining part of the budget and adjourn the House fell on deaf ears. For his part, Mr. Prasad was also unwilling to oblige the Speaker’s request that he table the speech. “No, I will read it,” the Minister said.

When it was suggested that the Minister table what was left of Part I of the speech — by far the bulk of the address — and come straight to Part II which consists of the populist announcements, Mr. Prasad again held his ground: “There is not much left; it is almost over.”

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

National