New Delhi, Dec 22: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today shot off barbs at the BJP for disrupting the House, saying the opposition should learn from Atal Bihari Vajpayee who believed in rising above partisan politics and engaging in purposeful debates in Parliament.
Kumar's remarks were even more embarrassing for the principal opposition as she was speaking at a BJP programme organised to release a DVD of Vajpayee's speeches in Parliament and collections from his diary.
Lavishing praise on Vajpayee for his unparalleled oratorical skills, Kumar said, “Today the frequent disruptions in Parliament are a major cause of concern for me. It defeats the purpose for which members are elected and sent to the House by the people. Engaging in purposeful debate would increase the prestige of the House across the world.”
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, JD-U President Sharad Yadav, BJP MPs L K Advani, Bal Apte, Ananth Kumar, party president Nitin Gadkari, and former Speaker Manohar Joshi were present on the occasion.
Though she did not specifically name the BJP, the fact that she was making this clear at a programme organised by the party and at a time when the principal opposition is one of the main culprits of disruptions was not lost on the audience.
The Speaker insisted that Vajpayee was unlike the Parliamentarians of today as he favoured putting across one's point of view inside the House and not force adjournments.
“Disruptions are not good for democracy. The voice of the weak remain suppressed when this happens. Members should follow the example set by Vajpayee,” Kumar said.
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