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Shahid K Abbas in New Delhi and PTI
Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed an unseemly scene when Samajwadi Party member Devendra Singh Yadav manhandled Bahujan Samaj Party leader Rashid Alvi amid uproar over the demand for dismissal of the Uttar Pradesh Governor Vishnukant Shastri for his alleged partisan role in shielding the Mayawati government.
In the midst of din, Alvi's allegation that the Samajwadi Party was 'full of criminals' provoked Yadav who along with other members menacingly moved towards the BSP member and pushed him.
The incident, which took place during the Question Hour led to a commotion in the House disrupting the proceedings for about 20 minutes. Taking serious exception to it, Speaker Manohar Joshi observed that what had happened was 'not good' and he would take necessary action after consulting the rulebook.
As the situation got charged, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan along with several others rushed to mollify the agitated members and persuaded them to go back to their seats.
Alvi refused to resume his seat saying he must be given an opportunity to speak and that he was not afraid of anyone.
"This action has exposed the true face of Samajwadi Party," Alvi said as his party colleagues moved to the well of the House demanding immediate action against Yadav.
Samajwadi Party members were on their feet as soon as the House assembled, demanding recall of Shastri for his 'unconstitutional and undemocratic statement' that the SP should prove its majority in Uttar Pradesh.
Attacking the governor for his statement, SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav said, "Should we go to his bedroom to prove our majority? It has to be proved on the floor of the House." Asserting that it was abundantly clear that the Mayawati government had been reduced to a minority, he demanded that the governor should convene an emergency session of the state assembly for a trial of strength.
Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi observed that the SP member's behaviour had lowered the image of the House and warned him against repeating such acts in future.
Earlier, Samajwadi Party members staged a dharna outside Parliament asking the Centre to pressurise Shastri to convene a special session of the legislative assembly to force Chief Minister Mayawati to prove her majority.
Referring to the recent bypoll to the lone seat in the Legislative Council, where the ruling BJP-BSP coalition nominee, Munna Singh, scrapped through with just 194 votes, the SP members said the result confirmed their claims that the Mayawati government has lost majority. A simple majority of 202 is required in the 403-member state assembly.
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