LS Speaker pulls up Supriyo, expunges minister’s remarks
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday disapproved of Union minister Babul Supriyo’s remarks against Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, saying he has no right to scold any member of the House.
The Speaker immediately expunged Supriyo’s remarks against Chowdhury, which also prompted strong protests by the Congress members.
“Mantri ji, aapko adhikaar nahi diya (gaya hai) daatne ka (minister, you have not been given right to scold),” Birla told Supriyo.
Birla old the parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi to explain Parliamentary proceedings to Supriyo, who is the minister of state for environment.
Amid protests by Congress members, Supriyo said he has known Chowdhury for a long time and was withdrawing the remarks.
Earlier, Chowdhury said the written reply related to national clean air programme was just a statement of intention. In response, Supriyo said since Chowdhury is following ‘Fit India’ regime, he might have been doing Yoga and did not get enough time to read the answer.