MPs fume over Team Anna tirade

Remark lowering dignity of House unwarranted, unacceptable: Speaker

As parliamentarians across the political spectrum slammed activist group Team Anna for using derogatory remarks against MPs, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar also stressed that such remarks are unacceptable.

She rejected a censure motion on the issue given by National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convener and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) head Sharad Yadav for the Lok Sabha to pass a resolution censuring
Team Anna members.

“Parliament reflects the collective view of the country. Any remark lowering the dignity of the House is unwarranted and unacceptable,” the Speaker said, without naming anyone in a brief observation at the end of the short debate on the issue.

Before her remarks, Sharad Yadav had asked her “to protect the sanctity of this House” and “don’t let people criticise this institution.”

Launching a scathing attack on Team Anna, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav demanded that Hazare associate Arvind Kejriwal should be called to the House and asked to explain his behaviour.

“He should be called in the House, made to stand here and explain his conduct,” Yadav said.
Kejriwal has remained unperturbed by the criticism by law makers and has stood by his statement asserting that he “has not said anything wrong.”

“People are looking for a clean and honest political class… Shooting the messenger is not the solution. Addressing the message is— with all the seriousness it deserves,” he has said.

In the Lok Sabha, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh asserted that the prestige of Parliament was supreme but there was no need to give much importance to Hazare and his aides. At the same time, Prasad criticised Sharad Yadav and the SP for adopting double standard on the issue, as their leaders had participated in Hazare’s day-long protest at Jantar Mantar last December.

Earlier, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said though his party supported Anna Hazare’s demand for a strong Lokpal Bill, Hazare and his team members had to temper their language.