BJP raises concern over Kerala's move on Coimbatore blast

New Delhi, Mar 18 (UNI) Mr Kharabela Swain (BJP) today took strong exception in the Lok Sabha to the unanimous resolution passed by the Kerala assembly to release on humanitarian grounds People's Democratic Party Chairman Abdul Nasser Madani, an accused in the February 14, 1998 serial blasts in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Mr Swain said the move showed the communal and minority appeasement attitude of the UDF government in Kerala.

The BJP member said that according to intelligence reports Madani had ISI links.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, however, maintained that it was a state subject.

Taking a serious view of Mr Swain's remarks, Mr Varkala Radhakirshnan (CPI-M) tried to counter him, but the Speaker refused permission.

As Mr Radhakrishnan said every member had a right to express his views in the House, the Speaker said the senior member was setting a ''very, very bad example.'' The Speaker also forced another member, Mr Madhu Goud Yaskhi (Cong) to tender apology for trying to raise without the Chair's permission the Godhavari river water dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The country was being sought to be divided on such issues without any concern for national interest, the Speaker regretted.

When the Congress member persisted with making his point beyond the time given to him, the Speaker asked Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs B K Handique to ask his party members to abide by the Chair's ruling, failing which he said he would adjourn the House.

Taking a strong view of members' attempt to ''browbeat'' the Chair to get their turn to raise issues first, the Speaker said he would henceforth leave the task of prioritising issues for zero hour with floor leaders of various parties who had regular meetings with him outside the House to finalise the daily agenda.

He said as many as 39 members had given notice for raising issues and they should realise that they could be called only one by one and not together.

The Speaker, who was visibly annoyed most of the time over the behaviour of members, was all smiles when he called the name of Mr Giridhari Lal Bhargav (BJP).

Mr Chatterjee said Mr Bhargav ''is a shining example'' of discipline as he gave notice and waited for his turn. ''Why don't you all follow him,'' the Speaker asked, pointing to members who were restless and unable to wait for their turn.

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