Jethmalani issue rocks RS again, Cong demands to see some action

Pachouri, shouting at the top of his voice, wanted to know why a decision on the notice was being delayed. If there was any objection to the wording of the notice, the chair could inform the members, he said.

This drew shouts of protest from the ruling party members with M Venkaiah Naidu quoting rules to stress that chairman could not be forced in this way to give any ruling.

Amidst the din, Pachouri continued to raise his voice to press for his demand. A visibly upset chairman Krishan Kant wanted to know if the member was questioning him.

Even as Pachouri began explaining that he was not questioning the chairman, Kant abruptly adjourned the House till 2 pm saying he would sort out matter in his chamber.

When the House reassembled after lunch, Naidu contended that Pachouri had made certain remarks against the chair and demanded that the member should withdraw the remarks or else these be expunged.

Defending his colleague Congress’ Kapil Sibal said Pachouri had not said anything objectionable against the chair and there was no need for expunction.

An agitated Pachouri, waving a copy of the record of proceedings, said he was being wrongly accused and challenged Naidu to prove he had said anything against the chair.

Pachouri and Sibal said the authority of the chairman was never questioned and all they had wanted was to request the chair to take an early decision on their notice.

Meanwhile, a few members, including Mohd Salim (CPI-M), Viduthalai Virumbi (DMK), and Naidu said the chairman had adjourned the House in the morning saying he would sort out the issue in his chamber and wanted to know the outcome of the meeting.

The matter was resolved by Deputy chairperson Najma Heptulla who ruled that she would go through the record and if anything objectionable was found it would be removed.

She ruled that it was not always necessary that the House be informed of what transpired at the chairman’s chamber.