The feeling of hurt was palpable all through as Somnath Chatterjee presided over Lok Sabha proceedings on Thursday, a day after he came under attack from his erstwhile party.CPI(M) members were back to the same tactic as Wednesday — standing and shouting slogans for more rice for Kerala — but were more restrained. They stood up in the aisle, but refrained from rushing to the well. There was no display of any placard either. Even veteran leader Varkala Radhakrishnan, who is quick to engage any presiding officer with a point of order, was conciliatory. He did object to the manner of introduction of the Companies Bill, but with a rider that he was not challenging Chatterjee’s decision to allow it.As the House erupted into the usual pandemonium at the outset, the Speaker made a suo motu observation, pointing out that not even one question had been taken up during the current session. He went on to say: “I am on my way out. Do not think it will influence me.” He asked the members to “make some introspection”.“Naturally, I will be targeted, but I do not mind. I am not an aspirant for anything; personally you can take it that I am out, for all purposes,” the Speaker said.He referred to his 40-year association with the Lok Sabha and said “every day, I am going back with a lot of pain and agony from this House, but I want this House to remain, this House to function and democracy should be strengthened”.“I can tell you this is the worst period of my life, if it has any relevance for this House.” Chatterjee said he was criticised anyway, both for taking a strong and a mild action (to ensure order in the House).It was quiet thereafter and the Question Hour got underway. But things did not last the same way. The House was in a state of turmoil after some half-an-hour. When Surendra Goel of Congress challenged a point made by Brajesh Pathak of the BSP, Chatterjee warned him of action. Tathagat Satpathy put a supplementary question to Minister of Civil Aviation by stating that he was always an “obedient member”. Chatterjee shot back: “That is news.”Responding to Varkala Radhakrishnan’s reservation about the Companies Bill that the members had not had sufficient time to read the 230-page legislation, Chatterjee said, “I have noted your admonition.” When N N Krishnadas acknowledged that he and his colleagues from Kerala could not raise the rice quota issue in a proper manner, Chatterjee said some introspection should be there. Provoked by a ruckus created by the Left members, the Speaker said, “I have been abused left and right. I will not take it.”
