Birla expunges alleged derogatory remarks against Nirmala Sitharaman

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 14

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday expunged some allegedly derogatory remarks by Saugata Roy about Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman which caused huge uproar in the Parliament with the ruling BJP demanding an apology from the senior AITC leader.

Sitharaman, who introduced the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, was met with opposition from Roy and other Opposition leaders for trying to bring cooperative banks under the Centre’s control.

Voicing his reservations, Roy said something implying that India’s economic condition had increased Sitharaman’s worries. To which Sitharaman said, “If only Saugata Roy could listen instead of making remarks on other factors.” Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi demanded an unconditional apology from Roy. “Commenting on personal...being a senior member, what is he talking... he should apologise unconditionally. It is an insult to womenfolk”, though Roy kept insisting that he had not said anything unparliamentary.

The government withdrew the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, to add few things to give the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) a chance to be able to restructure distressed cooperative banks.  

Meanwhile, Joshi introduced in Lok Sabha a bill that seeks to reduce for one year the salaries of Members of Parliament by 30 per cent “to meet the exigencies arising out of COVID-19 pandemic”. 

Speaking during the Zero Hour, actor-turned-politician Ravi Kishan demanded strict action against drug abusers in film world. “Conspiracy is being hatched to destroy country’s youth, our neighbouring countries are contributing. Smuggling of drugs from Pakistan and China is done every year...it is brought via Punjab and Nepal,” Ravi Kishan alleged.

DMK MP TR Baalu said several students who had committed suicide - all from rural background - because of NEET exam. Students had passed Class XII through state board syllabus and NEET is conducted only on basis of CBSE syllabus. 

Leader of Congress Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury tried to raise the issue of Indo-China border tensions, but the Speaker said it is sensitive issue and should be raised in a sensitive manner. The Speaker asked him to raise the issue in the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee.

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