Pranab loses cool,lashes out at Brinda Karat in RS

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee lost his temper in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday after being repeatedly interrupted by Communist Party of India - Marxist member Brinda Karat during discussions on the price rise issue.

"I am not going to accept this. This is indiscipline. It is not permitted here," an incensed Mukherjee retorted at Karat's intervention. As she objected to his remarks, Mukherjee shot back, "Please do not show your temper here, show your temper somewhere else."

Even as the finance minister was replying to a supplementary by CPI-M Sitaram Yechury, Brinda Karat intervened and sought to know what the government was doing to combat the shortage of sugar. The minister took exception to the interruptions, saying it was not even a question fielded by her.

As some Left members stood up in protest, a visibly angry Mukherjee took his seat, indicating he will not respond to the supplementaries. But, after a short while, he spoke on the issue and assured the members that if there was any shortage of sugar, raw sugar will be imported.

Sharing the Opposition's concern over rising prices, he said it was mainly due to the shortage of essential commodities like pulses, sugar and edible oil and suggested strengthening of the public distribution system to provide relief to the common man.