NDA as well as AIADMK members did not put questions listed against their names and remained silent as long as Ansari was in the Chair even as the Chairman insisted that he had not punished anybody.
As soon as the House met, Samajwadi party MP Janeshwar Mishra raised the issue saying the sword of discipline should not be used to put down democracy while JD(U)'s Sharad Yadav felt the chairman's action appeared to be "one-sided".
Without taking any names, Yadav urged the Chairman to treat both members and ministers equally and noted that while one has been punished the other has been allowed to go scot-free.
Maitreyan was asked to "withdraw" from the House during Question Hour yesterday for defying the Chair after he repeatedly sought the Prime Minister's response to charges against T R Baalu for favouring his sons' firms.
Seeking to make his stand clear on the issue, Ansari noted that nobody was punished, castigated or condemned as he had only invoked a rule which has not been used for a long time and which has not been changed or rescinded.
"The day is over, the matter is over. Let us proceed," he said. NDA members, however, remained silent throughout the Question Hour despite the Chairman's suggestion to get over the issue.
Noisy scenes were witnessed as some Congress members wanted the Question Hour to proceed when Yadav raised the issue.
