Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Deplorable

Mamata Banerjee's act of flinging papers at the Speaker's podium before resigning as MP for allegedly being denied the right to speak was irresponsible. Elected representatives should remember that they are representing their constituency for the welfare of the people. They should behave responsibly at least during the proceedings watched live by the entire country.

R. Sekar,
Angul, Orissa

Perhaps nothing more dramatic has happened in Parliament in recent times than the fury of the woman scorned. In the drama enacted before the television cameras and telecast live, the furious MP played her part well — threw a bunch of papers towards the Speaker's podium, screamed, handed the resignation letter to the Deputy Speaker, and made her dramatic exit. The nation enjoyed the drama that had action, emotion, farce, pity, and absurdity thrown in.

As for the Deputy Speaker, he must have recalled Shakespeare's words (in his mind): "I understand a fury in your words, but not the words" (Othello). Lovers of theatre eagerly look forward to more such scenes in the forthcoming acts of Parliament.

V.S. Venkatavaradan,
Salem, T.N.

The concept of women's empowerment has received a jolt. The entire nation watched Ms. Banerjee's unrestrained behaviour live and she cannot justify her action on any ground. If the members themselves fail to realise and honour the sanctity of Parliament, how can the common man be expected to respect it and its members? The need for a code of conduct for MPs has once again come into focus.

N.K. Vijayan,
Kizhakkambalam, Kerala

Illegal migration from Bangladesh is no doubt a sensitive and complex problem, but a solution cannot be found by throwing papers at someone. Ms. Banerjee seems to believe not so much in walkouts as walking over parliamentary etiquette.

T. Prabhakara Rao,
Machilipatnam, A.P.

Our parliamentarians seem to have come a long way from waging a war of words. What a shame for the world's largest democracy!

S. Lakshmi Priya,
Tiruchi, T.N.

Looks like Ms. Banerjee has evolved a novel method of calling the attention of the House.

K. Hari Krishnan,
Tuticorin, T.N.

The unparliamentary behaviour of Ms. Banerjee deserves condemnation.

S. Baqr Ali,
Chennai

Ms. Banerjee has created a context in which the behaviour of our parliamentarians needs to be reviewed. It is time politicians were tutored in personality development.

P. Vasanth,
Madurai, T.N.

All parliamentarians should take a refresher course in history and the underpinnings of law and civilisation before each session.

S. Suchindranath Aiyer,
Bangalore

Ms. Banerjee has claimed that she resigned because she was denied her democratic right to speak. But was her action in Parliament within the democratic norm of agreeing to disagree?

A. Jainulabdeen,
Chennai

Such behaviour towards the Chair is condemnable. Ms. Banerjee must tender an unconditional apology.

Gaurav Kanthwal,
Chandigarh

Whatever the provocation, Mamata's behaviour was an insult to the Chair. This is unacceptable in any democracy. If it is condoned, it will set a bad precedent. Members cutting across party lines should see the danger in any erosion in the prestige of the office of Speaker.

M. Bhimashankar,
Hyderabad

Ms. Banerjee's resignation reiterates her obsession with causing a sensation wherever she is. Those who justify her action invite new threats to the democratic process. Instead, such parties should use their good offices to get an unconditional apology from her. Ms. Banerjee has let down her voters by resigning so abruptly.

C.P. Velayudhan Nair,
Kochi, Kerala

The behaviour of the senior parliamentarian and former Minister shows her utter disregard for parliamentary etiquette. There were certainly better options to ventilate her grievances. It is time she proved herself as a mature and responsible politician.

Ushadevi & S.B. Rao,
Ruwi, Muscat

To describe Ms. Banerjee's behaviour as sensational and unorthodox is an understatement. It is downright un-parliamentary and needs to be condemned by one and all.

She appears to have resigned from the membership of the House only to escape from the consequences. She should be disqualified from contesting elections in future.

T. Darmalingam,
Chennai

Ms. Banerjee owes an apology not only to Parliament and the Chair but to the entire nation. All right thinking people should discourage such persons from continuing in politics.

G. Duraiikkannan,

Udhagamandalam, T.N.

Ms. Banerjee might have been acrimonious in the Lok Sabha. But what the UPA Government is doing in the guise of secularism is atrocious. Illegal migration is creating havoc and national security is in peril.

B.N. Kapali,
Chennai

I am with the firebrand Trinamool Congress chief for the sensation she caused in the Lok Sabha. Ms. Banerjee is an elected representative of the people and she certainly had the right to speak on an issue she thought was important. No one has protested adequately against the massive influx of foreigners. Even the Centre has habitually neglected it.

Being a votary of parliamentary democracy, she should have avoided flinging papers and files at the Speaker's podium. That was bad.

M. Madhavan,
Ernakulam, Kerala

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Just acquittal, unjust suspicion
Sidelining the disarmament agenda
Lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Al-Qaeda is now an idea
Where are the "native" Brits?
The bombing of Hiroshima was policy
Don't trust the headlines
Significant ruling
Deplorable
Dress code

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu