Date:16/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/16/stories/2007101661640800.htm

National

House panel to ‘summon’ Ronen

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha Privileges Committee, at a meeting here on Monday, decided to “summon” Ambassador to the United States Ronen Sen to discuss the privilege issue pending against him.

Soon after Mr. Sen reportedly used the phrase “headless chickens” in an interview related to the nuclear deal with the United States, several Members of Parliament gave notice of privilege against him. The privileges committees of the two Houses are separately looking into the matter.

Although Mr. Sen subsequently apologised – this was conveyed to Parliament by the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee at that time – and also indicated that the “offensive phrase” was only against some in the media, MPs cutting across party lines were not satisfied.

After a meeting of the Privileges Committee of the Rajya Sabha on Monday, a member said a decision was taken to “summon” the Ambassador.

Though the Lok Sabha Privileges Committee was meeting separately, “the two committees would coordinate” their effort.

The chairmen of the two committees were expected to hold discussions and set the dates for Mr. Sen’s appearance before the committees.