CPI(M) hints at saffron agenda in Speaker’s lunch

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan’s sumptuous lunch for the lawmakers left a bitter aftertaste in CPI(M)’s mouth on Wednesday.

On the occasion of “Nutan Samvatsar”, Mahajan invited MPs for a vegetarian fare in Parliament House. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP veteran LK Advani and leaders cutting across political lines attended the event. The Left, however, saw it as a saffronised lunch. “The RSS for several decades has been championing Nutan Samavatsar as the beginning of Hindu calendar. The lunch was the first official recognition of that idea,” CPI(M) MP Md. Salim said.

Salim, along with other party MPs, however, attended the feast. He pointed out that no lunch was ever organised to mark this day in Parliament earlier. “The government has already changed the financial year. For most part of India, the New Year starts from April,” he pointed out. Some other MPs, however, could not attend due to “short notice,” an allegation refuted by Speaker’s Office.

Sources in Speaker’s office told HT that the invitation cards had been distributed from Friday and the Speaker had also mentioned about the lunch on Monday.

“Every MP was individually telephoned multiple times,” the source added.

The RSS has been championing Nutan Samavatsar as the beginning of Hindu calendar. The lunch was the first official recognition of that idea. MD. SALIM, CPI(M) MP