Speaker warns BJP MP over mobile phone use

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Wednesday let off BJP member Anurag Thakur with a stern warning against filming house proceedings on a mobile phone sparking allegations of “double standards” by the Congress members who were demanding his suspension.

The Speaker told the House that she had perused the proceedings of the House but nothing had come to her notice but would condemn such an act if it has been done. “If Anurag Thakur has done it, he should tender an apology to the House,” Mahajan said.

Thakur expressed regret without explicitly admitting that he had filmed the house proceedings on his mobile phone and angered the opposition benches by making a reference to the Bofors issue.

“If anyone has objections to my mobile, then I express regret,” he said pointing out that the proceedings of the House were broadcast live on television channels.

A visibly angry Mahajan lashed out at Thakur. “I am warning you. This mistake should not be repeated,” she said amid a wave of protests from the opposition.

“You have pardoned Anurag Thakur, but had suspended Bhagwant Mann for two sessions. Is this justice? Are these not double standards,” Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha said moments before Speaker adjourned the proceedings.

Later, addressing a press conference Kharge alleged that the Speaker had suspended six Congress members from the Lok Sabha “only after the government had exerted pressure”.

“As Thakur gets to walk away by a simple warning, opposition members bear the brunt of a tyrannical government hell-bent upon suppressing the opposition voice,” he said flanked by the six suspended Congress members.

On Monday, six Congress Lok Sabha members were suspended for five days for unruly behaviour in the House. Thakur was accused of filming their protests in the well of the House on his mobile phone, which is not permitted according to the rules of procedure of the Lok Sabha.