Felt bad about suspending 25 MPs from Lok Sabha: Speaker

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Saturday expressed concern about bills passed by the Lok Sabha getting stalled in the Rajya Sabha and said that the government has to think about it as it is “not good”.

Responding to Sonia Gandhi’s black-day-for-democracy remarks regarding the suspension of 25 MPs for disruptions, the Speaker said that the Congress president is “a leader and she knows democracy” and “rules in Parliament”.

“Soniaji knows what should happen and what should not happen in Parliament…what are the rules…and so I will not comment on what she said. I did my duty,” Mahajan told HT.

Mahajan said that she had asked the members not to show placards but they were “persistently shadowing” the ministers and MPs and “even the Speaker”.

She said she “felt really bad” about suspending the MPs but she couldn’t help it as she has to go by rules and keep the House in order. Moreover, she could have revoked suspension but “nobody requested or approached” her for this.

Asked how she viewed the fact that bills passed by the House comprising those elected by the people are getting stalled in another House consisting of those elected by MLAs, the Lok Sabha Speaker said, “One has to think of something about this also. What is happening is not good, definitely. The Lok Sabha is an elected body. Rajya Sabha (members) is elected by state legislatures … the government has to think about it. It is not the Speaker’s job.”

To a query about growing confrontation between the opposition parties and the Chair in the Lok Sabha, Mahajan said, “Jab achha karne jao, to thoda bhugatana to padta hai (when you want to do something good, you have to suffer slightly). But their fight is not with the Chair; it’s between parties.”

As for the demonstrations by Youth Congress members in front of her residence, she said that senior leaders of the party have to explain to them the rules of Parliament.

“Bhagwan unko sadbuddhi de (May God give them good sense).”