Fernandes triggers stir with Sonia remark

Fernandes, provoked by repeated interruptions by RJD members during his speech, dared the Government to order an inquiry into the purchase of coffins during the Kargil conflict. He also made a remark against Sonia, triggering protests from the Treasury benches. Alleging that the Tehelka expose was planned at the houses of some ruling party members, he said he would place documents pertaining to those behind it on the table of the House.

Laloo took exception to Fernandes’ reported remark in a television interview that Sonia would meet the same fate as Indira Gandhi, which prompted ministers Jagdish Tytler and Prithviraj Chauhan to protest.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee asked members not to mention names without notice but the directive had no effect. Fernandes drew support from Ananth Kumar, Harin Pathak and Shivraj Singh Chauhan of BJP, while Laloo, Raghunath Jha and Ram Kripal Yadav of RJD led the other side. At one stage, Chatterjee, upset over the conduct of members, said: ‘‘Do you think you have become emperors of India because you have been elected to this House?”