New Delhi, October 29
Indian ambassador to the US Ronen Sen today appeared before the Lok Sabha Privileges Committee and apologised for his “headless chickens” remark about critics of the Indo-US nuclear deal.

With his appearance before the panel, history of sorts was created as this is the first time when a top diplomat appeared before the privileges panel.

Sen told the 15-member committee, headed by Congress MP V. Kishore Chandra Deo, that his “headless chicken” remark was off the record and it was not aimed at the MPs.

He is scheduled to appear before the Rajya Sabha Privileges Committee on November 2. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan recently decided to summon Sen before the Privileges Committee of the House.

The envoy’s remark was made during a media interview when the nuclear deal was to come up for a debate during monsoon session of Parliament. The remark was as follows: “Why do you have all this running around like headless chicken, looking for a comment here or comment there, and these little storms in a tea cup?”

He said that he was misquoted and his remarks referred not to politicians, but some journalists.

“For instance, my comment about ‘running around like headless chicken looking for a comment here or comment there’ was a tactless observation on some of my media friends and most certainly not with reference to any honourable member of parliament…However, if I have unwittingly hurt any sentiments, I offer my unqualified apologies,” he said.

Sen’s remark evoked angry reactions from MPs, cutting across the party line.