Chair reprimands Aiyar for inattention during price rise debate

New Delhi, Apr 16 (UNI) Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar had to face the ire of the Chair in the Lok Sabha today for his ''inattention'' during the proceedings of the House.

As soon as Kiran Maheshwari of the BJP concluded her speech during the discussion on the price rise, Mr Varkala Radhakrishnan, who was in the Chair, reprimanded Mr Aiyar for not paying attention to a very important issue.

''It seems the Minister is not concerned about the price rise issue. There in an important discussion going on in the House and he is going through some files.

''You have taken it as a routine matter. You are not taking the discussion very seriously. This shows how concerned you and your government are towards the problem.'' However, the Chair was pacified on seeing Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar taking his seat in the House.

Mr Aiyar and some other members' remarks against the Chair were later expunged. Several members had demanded apology from Mr Aiyar for his remarks against the Chair.

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