In a rare act, lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Wednesday agreed to expunge her own “vested interest” remarks made on Tuesday against Congress MPs protesting in the Well. Soon after the House condoled the death of 10 people in the BSF plane crash, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge raised concern over the Speaker’s remarks.
On Tuesday, when Congress members were protesting in the Well, Mahajan had said they don’t have any national interest and they only have vested interest. Noting that she did not take the name of any party while making the remarks, Mahajan said it was made when members were protesting in the Well of the House.
“I did not take name of (any) party... I will definitely expunge the ‘vested interest’ remark... I am sorry,” she said. Wondering what would happen tomorrow, Kharge said the Speaker’s remarks were unfortunate and it hurt them. “(The remarks) were not proper,” he noted.
“We are bringing up issues on national interest” whether about Union Minister VK Singh or Arunachal Pradesh or any other matter, Kharge said, adding that whatever problems have happened, the Government was responsible.
Mahajan said, “Unko (Congress) bhi kisi baat ke liye dukh hua hai. Achchi baat hai ki woh sochen unki kisi baat se doosre bhi aahat ho sakte hain (They are hurt for some reason. It would be good if they also think that for their actions some others might have also been hurt)”.