CSAT row: RJD MP throws paper at Speaker, apologises

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Pappu Yadav on Friday threw bits of paper towards Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for not allowing him to raise the controversy over the civil services aptitude test (CSAT).

The RJD MP, however, apologised to the Speaker for his conduct twice later in the House after Mahajan expressed her displeasure by telling Yadav, “Your behaviour was very bad.”

“I apologise. You are like my mother. I also do not like raising the same issue every day. I crossed the limit to raise my voice in the interest of the people of the country,” Yadav said. The Speaker asked him not to repeat such behaviour again in the House.

Agitated over the lathi charge by police on protesting civil services aspirants, Yadav stormed into the Well of the House raising the issue with a newspaper in his hands.

He was also insisting for a statement from Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the issue. As the Speaker asked him to go back to his seat, Yadav tore the newspaper and threw it towards her After apologising, the RJD leader demanded the government to withdraw CSAT. “Do not play with the future of students,” he added.

Compared to the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha witnessed far more uproarious scenes over the CSAT row, with almost all the Opposition members stalling its proceedings prompting the Chair to adjourn the House thrice before noon. The issue was raised by Congress leader Pramod Tiwari and Samajwadi Party member Naresh Agrawal as soon as the House assembled for the day.

The House plunged into chaos as other opposition members, including Janata Dal-United chief Sharad Yadav, also joined them for raising the issue.

 Opposition members wanted the government to take an immediate decision on the Verma Committee report, saying it had given an assurance of taking a decision on the issue in a week’s time.