Ronen Sen let off the hook

Indian envoy to the US, Ronen Sen has been let off by the Lok Sabha for his 'headless chicken' remark with some critical comments.

Indian envoy to the US, Ronen Sen, who was in soup over his 8216;headless chicken8217; remark, has been let off by the Lok Sabha Privileges Committee with some critical comments against him and an advisory that a diplomat should be discreet.

The Committee, which had summoned Sen last month after the remark rocked Parliament during the Monsoon Session, recommended that 8220;keeping in view the unconditional apologies tendered by Sen8230; the matter may be treated as closed.8221;

8220;The Committee is 8230; of the view that no breach of privilege or contempt of the House is involved in the matter,8221; it said in its report tabled in the House on Thursday.

Suggesting that Sen has not covered himself with glory by such an indiscreet comment, it observed that 8220;this matter could well serve as an advisory on what ought not to be done by a diplomat.8221;

The controversy arose following his remark dubbing those opposed to the Indo-US nuclear deal as 8216;headless chicken8217; with MPs stalling Parliament and demanding action against him.

This is perhaps for the first time that a senior diplomat was summoned by Parliament.

The Committee, headed by V Kishore Chandra S Deo, also reminded him 8220;discretion in speech is more important than eloquence.8221;

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Holding that the phrase 8216;headless chicken8217; was 8220;not used by Sen in respect of MPs or politicians8221;, the report suggested it was directed against media persons.

8220;It is a fact that media persons run after politicians and MPs for comments/bytes on important issues. Politicians and MPs as a matter of fact are the persons who are making comments, they are not the persons running after comments here and there,8221; the Committee observed.

As for misgivings arising out of Sen8217;s interview, the Parliamentary panel was satisfied with his clarification that there was 8220;no malafide intention whatsoever on his part and accepted his unqualified apologies.8221;

Noting that Sen was 8220;assiduously8221; working for successful clinching of the Indo-US nuclear deal, it said 8220;in such a scenario, even inadvertent off-the-cuff remarks coming from him, which could be construed as being critical of opponents of the subject in question, should have been well avoided.8221;

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The report referred to Sen8217;s submission that it was never his 8220;intention to cast aspersions or to call into question the motivation of Honourable Members of Parliament, let alone the august institution of Parliament which is the supreme bastion of our democracy8221;.

The Committee is of the view that 8220;notwithstanding8221; the Ambassador8217;s contention, it was 8220;indeed an act of indiscretion on his part for having used this expression even in an informal chat with a media person.8221;

It justified the journalist for quoting Sen, saying, 8220;Why would a correspondent/media person seek views of a diplomat or any public figure? Surely, not for any academic purpose. Obviously, it would be for the purpose to publish or transmit the same as news and if possible as breaking news8221;.

8220;While it is not a sin, not even for a diplomat, to have personal opinion on important issues, it was lamentably naiuml;ve of a seasoned career civil servant and diplomat to have given vent to his personal opinion on such an issue to a media person, albeit in a unguarded moment,8221; it said.