A discussion on the plight of rickshaw-pullers today turned into an ugly spat between two members in the Lok Sabha which took the shape of war of words between the NDA and the UPA.
The trouble started when Arun Kumar of Rashtriya Samata Lok Party, an NDA constituent, referred to the practice of hand-pulled rickshaws in states including Bihar while participating in the debate to amend the Motor Vehicles Act.
Ranjeet Ranjan (Cong) and another MP from the state opposed his remarks saying hand-pulled rickshaws are no more in use in Bihar.
Kumar shot back that the Congress member has limited knowledge and should not interfere. When Ranjan persisted, he said he would be forced to make remarks which she would not like.
As the war of words continued, NDA and UPA members joined the issue. At this Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai asked Kumar to end his speech and sit down. An agitated Kumar continued to speak and sat on a 'dharna' in the Well but was pulled back to his seat by a BJP member.
BJP member from Delhi (South) Ramesh Biduri supported Kumar, prompting Thambidurai to say that either he should keep quiet or run the proceedings from the Chair.
Thambidurai said he cannot allow members to speak like this therefore he had asked Kumar to end his speech.
Biduri said Congress President Sonia Gandhi had promised driving licenses to e-rickshaw drivers two years ago but did not fulfil the promise. Gandhi was present in the House.
During the debate, Bhagwant Mann (AAP) said BJP had thought e-rickshaws would become "election rickshaws" for them. "Now your three MLAs can come to Delhi Assembly in an e-rickshaw," he said.
