Taking strong exception to the charge that he was indulging in tanashahi (dictatorship), Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Thursday offered to resign from his post.
"If members are not happy with the present incumbent, I shall have no regrets in leaving it. I was happy facing the chair than occupying it," Chatterjee made the remark soon after the house assembled in the morning in the wake of Wednesday's uproar, which had led to adjournment of the house for the day.
"The chair does not have any prestige any longer and has become totally irrelevant. It has become a matter of agony for me to occupy this chair, which I never expected to do, far less solicited," the Speaker said.
"So long as I am here, I shall try my best to discharge my duties and functions according to the rules of procedure and my conscience," he said.
Chatterjee said he adjourned the House soon after the post-lunch session began on Wednesday at the request of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Leader of the Opposition Lal Kishenchand Advani. He said he did it 'reluctantly and with great sorrow'.
"I have been earnestly requesting all the leaders and parties for their help and cooperation for running the House and also seeking guidance from them," he said.
"I am thankful to all for giving me assurance of their help and cooperation. But in spite of that the House could not function yesterday [Wednesday] after the Question Hour. Further, I have been accused of indulging in tanashahi," Chatterjee said.