Oppn walks out on Speaker's observation on MPs conduct

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) Protesting against the Speaker's observation that the conduct of some MPs in the House was deplorable, and their intervention and participation in dicussions often violated the prescribed norms, NDA members today staged a walkout during the Question Hour.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee made the remarks on the ruckus created by the Opposition during the statement of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the Indo-US nuclear deal in the House yesterday.

Objecting to the Chair's statement, the BJP members said the remarks amounted to censuring them only, while being soft on the others, particularly CPI(M) members who also raised an uproar in the Lok Sabha, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House.

Mr Chatterjee in his statement said ''The MPs are entitled to express their strong views in any manner permitted by the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the House...but unfortunately, there is continuous violation of the rules and defiance of the Chair which cannot be permitted forever.'' ''We cannot further allow the prestige of this great institution to be lowered ... due to the totally inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour which is displayed in the House, from time to time including today,'' Mr Chatterjee said.

UNI