Consensus eludes House, Speaker calls another meet

With political parties failing to decide on a single course of action to restore the “image and dignity” of Parliament following BJP MP Babubhai Katara’s arrest in the human trafficking case

With political parties failing to decide on a single course of action to restore the “image and dignity” of Parliament following BJP MP Babubhai Katara’s arrest in the human trafficking case, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has decided to call another all-party meeting next week.

The proposal of referring the Katara case, as well as those of the other three MPs who have been called for interrogation for alleged involvement in similar human trafficking cases to the Ethics Committee or the Disciplinary Committee of the Lok Sabha, was shot down by the BJP. Other parties, including the Left, are in favour of taking “strong action” against the MP for misusing privileges granted to him as a Member of Parliament.

However, the Ethics Committee is likely to be asked to evolve a new set of guidelines to keep the flock from straying in future. On his part, Chatterjee would be discussing the issue with leaders of all parties and make an announcement on what action Parliament would be taking against Katara and the other three MPs in the House tomorrow.

Story continues below this ad

“I will make an announcement from the Chair tomorrow as I cannot talk outside Parliament,” Chatterjee said, adding that he would be sitting with the leaders to evolve a consensus.

He also asserted that though there was no question of burying the issue, it was not proper to “paint everyone with the same brush”—a line of action that found support from Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi. Since the issue has got international attention much to everyone’s embarrassment, sources said the government was keen that “some visible action” was taken against the erring MP.

However, senior BJP leader V K Malhotra said, “We also want strong action. But why should this case be singled out for referring to the Ethics Committee. All other cases, including those of MPs and ministers who are behind bars but have not resigned from Parliament (implying Shibu Soren, Md Shahabuddin and Pappu Yadav), should be looked into by the parliamentary committee. There has to be a uniformity of approach.”

By raising the issue of tainted MPs, the BJP, otherwise on a backfoot over Katara’s arrest, managed to ward of immediate reference of the case to the Ethics/Disciplinary Committee that could inevitably lead to expulsion of the MP.

Badal to be stern with fraud travel agents

Story continues below this ad

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said an ADGP rank officer would be appointed to deal with fraud cases by travel agents. The decision was taken at a meeting here on Wednesday, under the chairmanship of Badal. He said that cases of women deserted by NRI grooms and the youth duped by unscrupulous travel agents would be settled within a set timeframe.