The 'gift' that keeps giving: Swamy's prickly Parliament run continues

After the huge protests Swamy triggered on his first day in Parliament, it perhaps was assumed that he would tone down for the second day. But Swamy clearly had no such plans. While the media has been forbidden from reporting what exactly he said, the reaction from the Congress was instant and loud.

 

The Rajya Sabha Chair immediately expunged his remarks - the second time in two days - and warned him of action for "unnecessarily provoking" members on the other side.

    

Trouble broke out after Chaudhary Munavver Saleem (SP) in a Zero Hour mention referred to Swamy being part of the movement in 1970s to protect the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Swamy got up to clarify saying he had no objection to minority education institutions but the Constitution prohibits the State from financing them.

    

He was countered on this by the opposition to which he responded by dragging the 'name of another country', a reference that led to agitated Congress members rushing into the Well. Kurien said he was expunging the reference to the Constitution of another country but that did not satisfy the Congress members who continued to shout slogans against Swamy.

    

Congress members sought action against Swamy with Jairam Ramesh saying he was "needling and provoking" by bringing in reference to another country. "This is deliberate."

    

Asked by the Chair what the problem was when the remarks have been expunged, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said "the problem is the new gift of BJP. Problem is not on this side."

    

He said Swamy is just two days old in the House and his remarks have already been expunged twice. "There are 365 days in a year, how many times are you going to expunge his words," he asked the Chair. "He does not allow his hair to grey so he can learn and mature."

 

Naqvi countered Azad's use of words against Swamy, saying "we have been headmasters of the school they (Congress) go to."

 

"I have expunged (the remarks) then and there. It cannot be reported, it cannot come on TV channels," Chairmen Kurien finally said, in a bid to calm things down. As Congress members returned to their seats, Swamy was up on his feet again. Kurien asked him to resume his seat. "You sit down now. Come and meet me in Chamber later."

    

Earlier soon after new member Navjot Singh Sindhu took the oath, Swamy again tried to raise the VVIP helicopter deal but Congress members shouted him down. "I am not going to mention that lady's name," Swamy said in apparent reference to him yesterday dragging Sonia Gandhi.

 

Earlier during their protest against Swamy, Congress members shouted 'CIA Agent' to counter him while the BJP member shot back chanting 'ISI, ISI'.