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Worst period of my life: Speaker

Special Correspondent

“I’ll be targeted but I don’t mind… but I want this institution to remain”

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee

NEW DELHI: Accused of discrimination by his former party colleagues and agonised by frequent disruptions, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Thursday said, “this is the worst period of my life.” Urging members to introspect on what they were doing to Parliament with their frequent disruptions, he said: “I am not an aspirant for anything; personally, you can take it that I am out, for all purposes.”

This outburst came at the start of the proceedings itself as CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia sought to draw attention to an adjournment notice he had submitted. Pointing out that Question Hour had been disrupted for three consecutive days, the Speaker asked members if they thought the cause of democracy was being strengthened with such disruptions.

Further, challenging members to show proof that he had deliberately prevented an issue from being raised, Mr. Chatterjee said: “Naturally, I will be targeted but I do not mind…. But I want this institution, which I am associated with for nearly 40 years, to remain.”

Referring to his decision to ask CPI(M) member A. P. Abdullakutty to withdraw himself from the House for a day on Wednesday, the Speaker said: “If I do not take strong action, then I am criticised. If I take one very mild action, that is also criticised.”

Through the morning’s proceedings, the Speaker made more such remarks. When Surendra Prakash Goel (Congress) sought to disrupt proceedings, the Speaker threatened him with disciplinary action; adding “now that I am getting abused, might as well as invite abuse from all quarters.”

And, again when Left party members from Kerala moved towards the well protesting the empty promises made by the government on restoring the State’s quota of rice, Mr. Chatterjee said: “You are abusing me left and right. I will not take it. I started yesterday [Wednesday], S. Ajaya Kumar (CPI-M), it is your turn today [Friday].”

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