Speaker frowns on Rahul ‘drama’, says decorum must

Mukesh Ranjan 

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 20

Stressing that all members must maintain decorum in Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan  disapproved of Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s gesture of hugging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it a “drama”. The Speaker’s comments came during the debate on the no-confidence motion. 

“We have to maintain decorum as MPs. Outsiders cannot maintain decorum,” she said. Without naming anyone, the Speaker said she did not like the hug as “he (Modi) is the Prime Minister”. 

Former Secretary General of the Lok  Sabha PDT Acharya pointed out there was  “no such parliamentary rule” prohibiting a member from reaching out to a fellow member and embracing him/her. “Undoubtedly, the Speaker’s word is final so far as the running of the House is concerned. Yet so many things happen in the House which are against specified rules.”  

He said Rahul’s gesture must be seen in the larger context as there was a breakdown of dialogue between the government and the Opposition. “The Congress leader ended his speech, saying  he did not carry anger against the PM and proved it by hugging him,” he said. But ex-LS Secretary General Subhash Kashyap differed. “The Speaker is the master of the House whose word is final. There is a clear provision in the rules regarding proceedings that the floor can’t be used for ‘demonstration’ and the chair has every right to reprimand a member for doing so. Nobody can be allowed to rush to the PM and hug him.”

PM speech old rhetoric: Sonia

Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi dubbed PM Narendra Modi’s speech “old rhetoric”, while Rahul Gandhi called it “weak”. Modi had said the Congress had misused the no-confidence motion to spread instability in the country to ensure that the Gandhi family remained in power. PTI

TWEETS

Jadu ki Jhappi in Parliament would have won Bapu’s admiration. A refreshing change from Gali Galoch politics of the day. Bravo! @RahulGandhi. Tushar

Rahulji gives a lesson to serial hugger Modiji. #BhookampAaGaya.  K Chandrakumar 

The most forced hug of all times. Consent Ka kya, Mr Gandhi?#NoConfidenceMotion #PappuKiJhappi. Priyanaka Bansal

Rahul Gandhi’s Priya Varrier moment after ‘The Hug’ #ModiTrustVote.  Vipin Vijayan