MPs to be penalised for rushing to the well of the House: Dasmunsi

New Delhi, Nov 14 (UNI) A consensus had emerged at a meeting with leaders of various political parties to restrain Members of Parliament from rushing to the well of the House, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi today said.

Talking to newspersons after the meeting held on the eve of the Winter Session of Parliament, he said it had been decided that if a member continued to flout the chair and rushed to the well, he should be penalised.

Very often it had been seen that the members left their seats and rushed to the well of the House to press for their demands and stall the proceedings of the House.

''While the members had the right to protest, they should do so from their seats instead of rushing to the well,'' he said, adding the leaders of political parties had agreed to it.

''It is necessary to maintain the decorum of the House,'' he said.

The leaders have demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should not only be present in the House at the time of the debate on the Indo-US Nuclear Deal, but should also reply to it.

Several members also expressed their concern over the escalated violence in Nandigram and demanded a discussion prior to any other issue to be taken up in both the Houses, Mr Dasmunsi said, adding the Business Advisory Committee would decide on the issue when a notice was received by it.

Other issues to be taken up during the 21-day Winter Session include price rise, law and order, Naxalism, SEZ and farmers plight.

UNI