RS members at cordial best on last day of tumultuous session

Members were at their cordial best in Rajya Sabha on Friday as it met on the last day of a tumultuous session in which Telangana Bill was passed amid bedlam and vociferous protests a day before.

Sharp wit and humour marked the proceedings as the entire House joined hands in thanking Deputy Chairman P J Kurien for his contribution in running the House and his "patience" with members on the troubled Thursday, when tempers ran high on the separate statehood issue.

Telugu Desam Party MP C M Ramesh, who was in forefront of protests over Telangana issue and was rapped by the Chair over his behaviour earlier, offered an apology in the House as Kurien urged members not to cross the "Lakshman rekha" while protesting.

Kurien also chose the occasion to remind members of the importance of Question Hour, which has been a casualty through out the Winter Session due to disruptions.

Kurien, who has himself been minister twice, said members should not allow ministers to escape grilling, for which Question Hour offers an opportunity.

"Members lose the chance to grill the minister, even to expose them. Why the Honourable members lose the chance to grill the ministers? Should we do away with Question Hour?" he said.

After members spoke praising him and the way Rajya Sabha acted on the contentious issue of Telangana, Kurien said, "We have proved that we can rise to the occasion and behave as members keeping in mind the dignity of the House of Elders as we did yesterday..."

"For everything, there is a Lakshman rekha. When you react and oppose, do whatever you want but the Lakhsman rekha should be kept in mind," he said.

Pointing towards M Venkaiah Naidu, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said, "He talks about Lakshman rekha while looking at Sitaram.

Nobody knows Lakshman rekha better than Sitaram."

Balbir Punj was quick to say, "Our Leftist friend has at least accepted that a Sita, Rama and a Lakshman exist."

Naidu said, "Rajya Sabha proved that we are different from the other House" not to "denigrate" it even under provocative circumstances.

Referring to the contrast in the situation prevailing in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during the debate on Telangana, he said, "We were able to achieve it with maximum possible restraint."

Though bedlam had prevailed in both Houses during Telangana debate, Lok Sabha had witnessed pepper spray attack and fisticuffs leading to expulsion of 16 MPs.

Disapproving of members frequently going into the Well, Naidu said, "If everybody goes to the Well, the bill goes to the hell...when serious matters are discussed, nobody should got to the Well."

Yechury also spoke on similar lines saying the Chair yesterday did not agree to division of votes on certain amendments because there was no order in the House.

It was at Yechury's behest that Ramesh rose to offer his apology. "In compelling situation, we did something in the House. This was an emotional issue. I extend my apology to the Chair and all members in the House."

Expressing happiness over the bonhomie in the House, Kurien said it would enable taking up of Question Hour.

Thanking the Deputy Chairman for running the House in an exemplary manner, Yechury said members are "proud" of Kurien for that and also acknowledged the contributions of Rajya Sabha Secretary General and other staffs.

Ravishankar Prasad said Kurien has shown great patience. "The nation needs to know, when we work, we work under difficult circumstance," he said.

V Maitreyan (AIADMK), who had strongly protested against the Chair for naming certain members in a House bulletin, also said in a lighter vein that he requests the Chair on behalf of the entire House to continue naming them.

K C Tyagi (JD-U) voiced concern over "minimum work" in both Houses of Parliament in this session.