President Pranab Mukherjee sternly reminded parliamentarians to behave themselves on a day the Trinamool Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members fought over a room.

“Please, for god’s sake, except you nobody can do it. It is our responsibility, we the elected members of both Houses including nominated members, to uphold the prestige, dignity and honour of this great great institution,” he said during an award ceremony for best parliamentarian awards.

He said the institution symbolises the freedom struggle and “it is the responsibility of every member to uphold its dignity and you have to do it.”

The President also complimented Narendra Modi on having commenced his innings in Parliament as leader of the majority party by bowing down in front of its steps and paying homage to it. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, senior leaders Karan Singh and Sharad Yadav on Tuesday evening were conferred with the Outstanding Parliamentarian Award for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively by Mukherjee.

Besides the President, Vice- President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan were present on the occasion.

Rekha attends RS proceedings

After coming under fire for her continuous absence in the Rajya Sabha, yesteryear Bollywood actor Rekha on Tuesday came to attend the proceedings of the Upper House for the eighth time in two years, DHNS reports from New Delhi.

The “Umraon Jaan” star was greeted by a battery of photographers as she entered the Parliament House complex. She seated herself next to social worker Anu Aga in the House.

The two nominated Rajya Sabha members sat through the Question Hour and were seen talking with each other. The 59-year-old Bollywood veteran and Aga left the House shortly before it was adjourned for lunch.