Somnath Anguished by Vajpayee letter

New Delhi, Aug 25 (UNI)Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today said he decided to resign following the letter from former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee questioning his style of functioning, but he gave up the idea after he was persuaded by a vast majority of MPs and many citizens, including some from abroad.

''In fact, I have received several mails from the citizens of this country asking me not to resign,'' he told mediapersons after the adjournment of the Lower House sine die at the end of a month-long Monsoon Session.

''The letter of Mr Vajpayee had indeed created great anguish and pain because the author of the letter was a highly respected person.'' In this context, he said he had been discharging his responsibilities according to his ability and subject to rules and procedures of the house.

Mr Chatterjee said he did not have any personal interest and his only consideration was the national interest. ''I treat all the political parties equally and used to give maximum opportunities to the Opposition and others to raise the people's issues.'' On yesterday's clash between RJD and JD(U) members on the floor, the Speaker said he had no words to describe the amount of shame that the incident had brought to the institution of Parliament.

''It was a sad day... It was very painful. The incident also exposes how we are failing our nation and in the discharge of our duty. The members do not realise the consequences of such a scene being watched by our people.'' Pointing out that he had been meeting the leaders of all the political parties before the beginning of the session to ensure a smooth business, Mr Chatterjee regretted that many a time the leaders did not keep up their promise of helping the chair in this regard.

He, however, hoped that the members would not resort to the kind of incident that had been enacted in the House yesterday.

Mr Chatterjee said the Monsoon Session had begun on July 24 with an adjournment motion by the BJP which is not generally allowed.

This, he said, was because of the fact that the request for the same was made by the main Opposition party.

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