Speaker confirms having received a privilege notice against Maken

New Delhi, Dec 3 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today said he had received a "Breach of Privilege" notice against Minister of State for Urban Development Ajay Maken.

Giving this information in the Lok Sabha, he said the matter was under consideration. The Privilege Notice had been given by Mr Arjun Charan Sethi (Biju Janata Dal) who had pointed out that the Union Minister had written a letter to his partymen asking them to stall Orissa Assembly proceedings to press for their demands.

Last week, BJD and BJP members from Orissa, protesting over Mr Maken's letter, had led into the Well following which the House was adjourned briefly. The Speaker had then merely observed that 'temples of democracy' should not be disrupted.

However, the matter got precipitated when Mr Maken, who is in charge of party affairs in Orissa, allegedly tried to clarify his position through a statement to the media later, in which he had reportedly said he was aware of his responsibility being a former Speaker of the Delhi Assembly.

"The matter is under my consideration," Mr Chatterjee informed the House.

UNI