SRINAGAR: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reprimanded Members of Parliament from the Chair for engaging in prolonged conversations and advised them to step outside if they wished to talk at length. He also admonished Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durga Das Uikey while the minister was responding to a question.
During the Question Hour proceedings in the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla expressed displeasure over MPs talking among themselves. He said that he was observing members engaged in lengthy conversations with one another. “This House is not meant for that,” the Speaker said. “A brief exchange is acceptable, but if you want to hold long discussions, please go outside and do so there.”
Issuing a warning, the Speaker said that if any member was again seen holding prolonged discussions, he would name them from the Chair. He then took the name of Congress General Secretary and MP KC Venugopal, saying, “Honourable Member KC Venugopal ji, if you wish to have a long discussion, please go outside.”
Following this, the Question Hour proceedings continued.
The Speaker also pulled up Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durga Das Uikey while he was replying to a question raised by Bannalal Rawat regarding the tribal community. While reading out his reply, the minister had one hand in his pocket, prompting the Speaker to object. “Minister ji, do not keep your hand in your pocket while replying,” Om Birla said. The minister then removed his hand and completed his response.
The Speaker later interrupted him again, asking him to clearly state whether any scheme had been formulated for villages or not.
Earlier, the Speaker had informed members that around 20 questions are taken up during Question Hour and that efforts are made to ensure ministers provide brief and precise replies to all questions.
