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Journalism of Courage
An angry BJP-led Opposition today stalled proceedings in the Lok Sabha over the manner in which former Secretary-General Subhash C Kashyap was sought to be admonished for his 8216;8216;reckless8217;8217; remarks against Speaker Somnath Mukherjee. The House had to be finally adjourned sine die in the afternoon but only after passing the motion by a voice vote.
8220;Loktantra me tanashahi nahi chalegi, dadagiri nahi chalegi, nadhirshahi nahi chalegi,8221; shouted BJP members after storming into the well as soon as the House assembled for the day. They were protesting against a motion listed in the day8217;s agenda seeking to admonish Kashyap on the recommendations of the Privileges Committee tabled on May 19 for committing 8216;8216;a gross breach of privilege and contempt of the House by imputing motives to the Speaker in discharge of his duties and casting reflections on his impartiality8230;8217;8217; objecting to the 8216;8216;manner in which the House is being run8217;8217;.
The agitated members refused to pay heed to the remarks of Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi that the Government was ready to discuss any issue.
It was trouble from the word go with BJP deputy leader V K Malhotra taking exception to the listed motion saying the committee8217;s report had not come up at the Business Advisory Committee meeting. The Treasury benches and other allies of the UPA shouted counter slogans. As the din continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon.
Only a few reports could be tabled when the House reconvened at 15 past noon before it was again adjourned till
2 pm. When it reassembled, the Speaker first asked Finance Minister P Chidamaram to reply to a special discussion on price rise and then asked Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to move the privilege motion.
BJP members quit privileges panel
The BJP quit the Privileges Committee, terming it the 8216;8216;blackest day in the history of parliamentary democracy.8217;8217; BJP deputy leader in the Lok Sabha V K Malhotra said, 8216;8216;We may bring a motion of no-confidence against Speaker Somnath Chatterjee during the monsoon session of Parliament.8217;8217; The four BJP members on the committee 8212; Kishan Singh Sangwan, Rajendrasinh Rana, Ananth Kumar Hegde and Virendra Kumar 8212; said in a joint letter to the Speaker that they had decided to resign following the report against Kashyap.
