'MPs need a code of conduct'

Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Charnjit Singh Atwal Friday said it is important to have a code of conduct for all members of Parliament in the house.

"There must be a code of conduct for all, whether they are members of the ruling party or are from the opposition," Atwal told rediff.com in response to a question.

Atwal, who is here to attend the second world conference of speakers of Parliaments, however, parried a reply as to when such code of conduct could be formulated and what would be the codes.

In answer to another question he admitted that it was "wrong" on the part of Mamta Banerjee, a Trinamool Congress lawmaker and a member of the opposition, to throw a sheaf of paper at him recently in protest against what she believed was discrimination against opposition members of Parliament.

"What she did was absolutely wrong because she could not have asked for an explanation as to why she was not allowed to speak. She asked to speak on almost the same subject, the infiltration of Bangladeshis into West Bengal, on which almost similar questions had been raised in the house," Atwal said.

Atwal, however,

said he felt some progress has been made in the current session of the house compared to the previous sessions in terms of participation of lawmakers, especially from the opposition in the house proceedings.

'No question of rift between judiciary and Parliament'

"I think last year when this Lok Sabha was constituted many members were new to the house and were not fully aware of the rules of the legislature and that is why there were problems," he said.

In his address to the UN parliamentarians conference, during which he said there were lots of praises about Indian's democratic traditions, Atwal touched upon the issue of the Millennium Development Goals.

"Achievement of the goals in a sustained manner leading to the real economic transformation. But he said to achieve all the goals fundamental reform of the international economic and financial institutions is needed," he said.

Atwal also talked about new challenges in the 21st century and called upon parliamentarians to respond. "Parliaments must respond to the challenges with a common vision and collective action," he said.