New Delhi, Feb 27 (TOI) : Parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu was forced to eat humble pie on Thursday after a united opposition stalled Lok Sabha proceedings by sloganeering in the well of the House demanding an apology for his remarks on Wednesday.
While he stopped short of an apology, Naidu clarified he had no intention of hurting anyone or casting aspersions on any party or individual. A dissatisfied opposition stormed into the well causing two adjournments before Naidu clarified that he meant no offence.
During the discussion on motion of thanks, Naidu took an apparent dig at Rahul Gandhi's leave to introspect, saying Congress should introspect and if they could not do it here, they should "go somewhere far". He had claimed that BJP government did not want to bring ordinances and accused Congress of a worse track record on the issue. When he told an MP seeking chance to speak that Congress would get an opportunity after five years, an infuriated opposition walked out.
On Thursday morning, Congress held a meeting of its MPs along with nine political allies to discuss "Naidu's conduct". Members felt Naidu was being an instigator in place of being a floor manager. Chaired by Sonia Gandhi, the gathering decided to petition Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and apprised her of their complaint and demanded an apology.
As the House assembled, Naidu rose to make a suo motu statement, saying he respected all parties and leaders and had not used any unparliamentary language.
Not satisfied with his reaction, opposition members including Congress, SP, Left, TMC, AAP, RJD trooped into the well forcing a brief adjournment. When the House reassembled, similar scenes forced a second adjournment. The matter was put to rest thereafter and the Question Hour continued for about ten minutes.
Naidu said, "I only said what happened in your time and what is happening in our tenure. I also mentioned about the thinking of the present government...arguments and counter arguments are part of the political system."
Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge said the opposition has no intention to disrupt the proceedings. "He (Naidu) is a senior leader and the parliamentary affairs minister. It is his duty to take everyone along...he has no right (to use such words)," he said.
Quoting an Irish author Kharge said, ``No man can be grateful at the cost of his honour. No woman can be grateful at the cost of her chastity and no country can be grateful at the cost of its liberty. It is a question of our honour. He must express regret. It should not become a practice. We will not tolerate it.''
The Speaker said the issue should be put to rest after Naidu's clarification. Unimpressed, the MPs rushed to the well raising slogans against the "attitude" of the government. It was only after Naidu's second clarification when he said that he had not cast aspersions on anyone that the opposition was mollified.