Parliament standoff: Speaker writes to Vajpayee

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Tuesday made a fresh appeal to the National Democratic Alliance chairman Atal Bihari Vajpayee to reconsider the Opposition's decision to boycott Parliament proceedings with an offer that permissible matters will be allowed to be raised in the House.

"I request you to please see that my friends in NDA join the House and take part in the proceedings," Chatterjee said in a letter to the former prime minister.

Also see: NDA to continue Parliament boycott

"So

far as I am concerned, I have always assured that all matters, which can be permitted, will be allowed to be raised and discussed in the House," the speaker said.

"I hope under your leadership, NDA will reconsider its decision and the members will participate in the proceedings of the House," he added.

Chatterjee's appeal comes in the wake of NDA's decision on Tuesday to continue its protest in both Houses.