NEW DELHI:Uproarious scenes were witnessed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday as the Congress raised questions over the impartiality of the Speaker, following which the House had to be adjourned twice.
The ruckus began after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan allowed Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal to make a statement on the cancellation of a food park in Amethi. The Congress MPs protested loudly as to why a minister was allowed to speak on the same issue repeatedly whereas their party’s requests for adjournment motions had been rejected by the Speaker.
Congress member Deepender Hooda told the Speaker that it was not natural justice as a minister was allowed to speak twice. According to Hooda, “You cannot allow repetition, you cannot allow the government to repeat five times”. The Speaker, however, rejected Hooda’s contention and even asked him if he were challenging her. “If you don’t want me as the Speaker, then I have nothing to say,” Mahajan said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu immediately reacted, saying, “You cannot threaten the Speaker... No member should challenge the Speaker.”
When the Lok Sabha re-assembled after the adjournment, Hooda expressed his “deep regret” over his comments, saying he never intended to challenge the Speaker’s ruling.