Leader of Opposition in UP Assembly Swami Prasad Maurya (BSP) today accused Speaker of being biased towards the state government, a statement which was later condemned by members cutting across party lines.
During the Question Hour when discussion on law and order was going on, Maurya said that Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey should not patronise government but all members.
"The Chair should patronise all the members and not the government only," the BSP leader said.
The Speaker responded by saying that it was not fair to make an allegation on the Chair.
"You are making allegation against me. This is not fair. I condemn your act," the Speaker said.
Terming the statement made by Maurya as an "indecent act", Parliamentary Affairs minister Azam Khan said that the "way of talking of Leader of Opposition with the Speaker was not good."
Khan said, "this is not the first time he (Maurya) showed disrespect to the Chair."
Later, during the Zero Hour, Samajwadi Party member Ambika Chowdhury said that it was probably for the first time when the Speaker had condemned the attitude of a Leader of Opposition.
"All the members should condemn his act and a 'Ninda prastav' (motion for condemnation) should also be passed," Chowdhury said.
BJP Legislative party leader Satish Mahana said that all the members are being patronised by the Speaker and use of such words (by the Leader of Opposition) for him was not good.
Congress Legislative party leader Pradeep Mathur too condemned Maurya's statement.
Later, Maurya clarified that he did not mean disrespect to the Chair.
"Whatever I said was to get Speaker's patronisation to raise my voice. I did not have any intentions to raise fingers on the Chair. I regret if my statement hurt someone," he said.
