Date:17/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/17/stories/2004121707331100.htm

National

``Spat'' is over: Prime Minister

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 16. The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, today put the lid on the public quarrel between his Cabinet colleagues, the Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, and the Steel Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan, with brief remarks in the Rajya Sabha.

In response to a demand from the Opposition to take the House into confidence on the spat as part of the "collective responsibility of the Cabinet," Dr. Singh said the two Ministers had stated in Parliament that they had not made any allegations against each other. "In the light of their clarification, the matter may be treated as settled and there is no need for further clarification," he said amid protests from the Bharatiya Janata Party members.

Earlier this week, the Opposition had stalled the proceedings in both Houses over the issue and demanded a statement from Dr. Singh as they maintained that the row between two Ministers concerned the collective responsibility of his Council of Ministers. In the Rajya Sabha, the Chairman, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, had directed the Government to respond.