Hamid says Matreyan was not punished

New Delhi, Apr 25 (UNI) Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari today sought to put an end to the controversy, arising out of his yesterday's ruling for evicting AIADMK Member Dr V Maitreyan for disrupting proceedings of the House, saying no one was punished and he had simply mentioned the relevant rule to the Member.

As soon as the House assembled for the day, senior Member Janeswar Misra of the Samajwadi Party (SP) rose up and pleaded with the Chairman to take back his order.

Mr Ansari requested him to raise the issue after Question Hour, but Mr Misra insisted that his demand be listened to.

He said the Members expected some understanding from the Chair of their intentions and feelings, and there were many situations which could be resolved without invoking any penal provisions of the Rules of the House.

Sharad Yadav of the Janata Dal (United), Digvijay Singh of the same party, Brinda Karat of the CPI(M) and several other Members also urged the Chairman to withdraw his order.

Mr Ansari said,''In fact none was punished or castigated. All that had happened was that persuant to the rule of the House, the attention of the Member was drawn to that and he complied.'' Yesterday, Dr Maitreyan was asked by Mr Ansari to leave the House after the AIADMK member repeatedly disrupted the proceedings on the issue of Shipping Minister T R Baalu allegedly misusing his position by asking GAIL to provide gas to companies with which his family was associated.

UNI NAZ SBC BD1950