Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Monday expressed anguish over the absence of a large number of parliamentarians during Question Hour in Lok Sabha and chided the absentees.

"Are we not inviting critical comments from the people of India," he asked after as many as nine questions had to be skipped as members, who were supposed to have raised them, were absent.

Later, another four questions could not be taken up for the same reason.

As many as 21 members, against whom these 13 questions were listed, were absent during Question Hour when it is imperative for the government to reply.

Last Thursday, nine questions were skipped as 15 parliamentarians were absent. The Speaker had then commented that this was the reason why 'all kinds of comments' were made against Parliament's functioning.