New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu, while refusing to budge on revoking the suspension of 12 members for misconduct, peppered his remarks with rhyming phrases. When Opposition members threatened to walkout over his refusal to revoke the suspension of 12 members, the Chairman said: “In a parliamentary democracy, you can shout out or walk out.”
He continued: “I respect your sentiments, but please see to it that the House is allowed to function.” During Zero Hour, members, including YSR Congress Party member V. Vijayasai Reddy, raised the issue of the heavy rains and floods in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Reddy said the Andhra Pradesh government would need Rs. 1,000 crores to mitigate the damage caused by the floods.
Ramesh Babu of BJP said the Andhra Pradesh government had failed to give any advance notice to the people ahead of the flash floods, and added that hundreds of thousands of animals were washed away in the floods.
Rajya Sabha Chair Naidu said that heavy rains and floods had hit Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. “I hope the government will take notice and take action on this,” he said.
When TMC member from Goa LJ Faleiro started attacking the present state government, alleging that it has destroyed the ecology and livelihoods for the sake of coal mining, the Chair said he was being patient with him and allowing him more time as he was a new member, and pressed Faleiro to come out with his suggestions, for which Zero Hour is meant.
While recalling the eventful happenings of August 11, on the last day of the Monsoon Session, that led to suspension of 12 opposition members for misconduct, Naidu said there can be differences of opinion “but once the Chair accepts a notice (for discussion) that is final.” “I said please have decency, you (opposition members) may not agree, but there were continuous interruptions.”
“I am afraid if we continue this trend, people will lose faith in the system. Yes, protest, make your point, and walk out.
“It is their right to walk out and talk out,” he said, in another rhyming phrase. “If you don’t like the particular government, go and meet the people. I am not here to defend the government, but to see that members do not offend the parliament”.
