Saugata Roy’s remark on Nirmala Sitharaman creates furore in Parliament; Pralhad Joshi seeks TMC MP’s apology

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Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Monday sought an unconditional apology from All India Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy for his remark on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Dum Dum MP’s comments were expunged from the record.

While speaking in Parliament, Joshi said: “Commenting on personal attire…being a senior member, what is he talking? He should apologise unconditionally. It is an insult to womenfolk.”

Earlier today, the Lok Sabha adopted a motion to do away with Question Hour and private members’ business during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which began today. The Monsoon Session, which is being held amid the COVID-19 pandemic, will continue till October 1.

The Congress-led Opposition slammed the move, calling the Question Hour as the “golden hour of the House”.

Meanwhile, for the first time in history, MPs attending the Lok Sabha proceedings were permitted to speak while sitting on their seats. This was done as a step to contain the COVID-19 spread.

“All lawmakers in this Monsoon Session will first speak from their seats without standing. The initiative was taken in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Earlier, all MPs used to stand before speaking in Parliament as a sign to show respect to the chair.

Ahead of the beginning of the Monsoon Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the media and said: “The Monsoon Session begins today, there is corona and there is responsibility. All parliamentarians have chosen the path of responsibility, I thank all of them for doing so. The Budget Session had to be stopped midway, this time too the timings of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha had to be changed. The week offs on Saturday, Sunday had to be revoked.”

He further asserted: “There will be many important decisions in this session, discussions will be held. It is our experience that the more intense, and diverse the discussion in Parliament is the more benefits the country gets. This time too we all will do value addition to it. We will all have to follow the guidelines issued in view of the coronavirus situation.”