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The remarks of AAP leader Bhagwant Mann taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his 'Mann ki baat' talk on radio, which were expunged on Thursday, have been restored in the Lok Sabha records.
"This problem is unlikely to be resolved by addressing 'Mann ki baat' programme on radio", Mann, a former stand-up comedian, had said in his inimitable style on Thursday when the Lok Sabha was debating the farmer's suicide in Delhi.
A visibly irritated Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had immediately ordered the remarks to be expunged from the record triggering strong protests from the opposition, including Congress and TMC in the Lok Sabha, forcing her to promise a reconsideration.
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Her order was contested by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Saugata Roy (TMC) who sought to know under which rule she had made the decision, as Mann's remarks were neither "unparliamentary" nor "against rules".
Besides, Kharge had argued that members have a right to speak against the Prime Minister as he is the Leader of the House. He had sought to know what was wrong if the AAP member had spoken about the Prime Minister's 'Mann ki Baat' talk.
The Speaker's contention was that opposition members were dragging the Prime Minister's name in almost every debate which was not "fair".
"I understand your sentiments. I will look into it later and if the reference and context are right, then I will allow it," she had said. As opposition members persisted, she had said, "I will reconsider it.
