The speaker is talking tough. Taking serious note of disrupting the prime minister's speech on the nuclear deal, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Tuesday said such a conduct by members cannot be permitted forever. Infuriated, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Opposition staged a walkout.
"I am extremely sorry that we witnessed extremely uproarious scenes when the PM was speaking. That can never be condoned," Chatterjee said.
Members belonging to the National Democratic Alliance and the United National Progressive Alliance shouted slogans during the PM speech on Monday. To maintain decorum in the House, the speaker said, "I wish to inform members that in future, all methods as are provided in our rules will be applied to enforce minimum discipline in the House, however painful that may be."
Soon, the NDA members walked out protesting Chatterjee's observations. As soon as the House met after a brief adjournment in the morning for Question Hour, the speaker made a suo motu statement.
"Before we take up business in the House, I wish to refer with great sorrow and concern to what happened yesterday in this chamber, which we call the Temple of Democracy," he said.