ID :
13261
Mon, 07/21/2008 - 18:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/13261
The shortlink copeid
Somnath ignores party, chairs session
New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) Brushing aside demands of C.P.I.(M.) to quit Lok Sabha, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee Monday presided over the special session to debate the confidence motion with an appeal to members that he has nosubject of his own except that the House is run.
Before he came in to take the chair, Chatterjee presided over a meeting of the floor leaders to discuss the modalities of the two-day debate and nobody raised the issueof his resignation there.
The C.P.I.(M.), after a meeting of the Central Committee, is understood to have asked him late Sunday nightto step down before the start of the session.
The party has been asking him to quit the post ever since the Left parties withdrew support to the government on the Indo-US nuclear deal and the Speaker has been maintainingthat he is above party politics.
"I don't have to impress upon the importance of the motion that is going to be debated. The whole nation is watching. In the time available fullest opportunity will be given to members," he said before start of the debate,appealing to members to maintain the dignity of Parliament.
"There may be some 'toka-toki' (interruptions), but order should be maintained. The Chair has no subject of hisown except that the House is run," he said.
The Speaker said a total of 12 hours has been alloted for the discussion on the motion and the House may have to sit till 10 P.M. Monday. Tentatively, the reply of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be around 5-6 PM Monday after whichthere will be voting.
Chatterjee's wife Renu and daughter were present inthe Speaker's Gallery to witness the proceedings.
In an attempt to inject humour after he took the Speaker's Chair, Chatterjee, 79, said "it is nice to see afull House".
"It is an important session," said the Speaker whileasking some agitated members to keep quiet.
Before going to the Lok Sabha, the Speaker presided over the meeting of the floor leaders of parties to discuss issues relating to the trust vote being sought by PrimeMinister Manmohan Singh.
When asked whether he still remained the Speaker,Chatterjee evaded a reply as he entered Parliament House.
However, sources close to the Speaker said that he was not aware of any communication asking him to quit except C.P.I.(M.) General Secretary Prakash Karat's statement that heshould take his own decision.
Chatterjee, who has repeatedly stated that the Speaker's office should not be dragged into political controversy, has not obliged the party leadership which has been pressing himto quit the constitutional office.
Before he came in to take the chair, Chatterjee presided over a meeting of the floor leaders to discuss the modalities of the two-day debate and nobody raised the issueof his resignation there.
The C.P.I.(M.), after a meeting of the Central Committee, is understood to have asked him late Sunday nightto step down before the start of the session.
The party has been asking him to quit the post ever since the Left parties withdrew support to the government on the Indo-US nuclear deal and the Speaker has been maintainingthat he is above party politics.
"I don't have to impress upon the importance of the motion that is going to be debated. The whole nation is watching. In the time available fullest opportunity will be given to members," he said before start of the debate,appealing to members to maintain the dignity of Parliament.
"There may be some 'toka-toki' (interruptions), but order should be maintained. The Chair has no subject of hisown except that the House is run," he said.
The Speaker said a total of 12 hours has been alloted for the discussion on the motion and the House may have to sit till 10 P.M. Monday. Tentatively, the reply of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be around 5-6 PM Monday after whichthere will be voting.
Chatterjee's wife Renu and daughter were present inthe Speaker's Gallery to witness the proceedings.
In an attempt to inject humour after he took the Speaker's Chair, Chatterjee, 79, said "it is nice to see afull House".
"It is an important session," said the Speaker whileasking some agitated members to keep quiet.
Before going to the Lok Sabha, the Speaker presided over the meeting of the floor leaders of parties to discuss issues relating to the trust vote being sought by PrimeMinister Manmohan Singh.
When asked whether he still remained the Speaker,Chatterjee evaded a reply as he entered Parliament House.
However, sources close to the Speaker said that he was not aware of any communication asking him to quit except C.P.I.(M.) General Secretary Prakash Karat's statement that heshould take his own decision.
Chatterjee, who has repeatedly stated that the Speaker's office should not be dragged into political controversy, has not obliged the party leadership which has been pressing himto quit the constitutional office.
