Date:13/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/13/stories/2008031355871300.htm

National

Thackeray’s response sought

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha Secretariat has sought the comments of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray on the privilege notice submitted against him by RJD member Devendra Prasad Yadav.

Disclosing this, sources in the Secretariat said the Speaker would take a view on the notice only after getting Mr. Thackeray’s response.

The notice was submitted by Mr. Yadav last week in the wake of an editorial in the Shiv Sena journal Saamna in which Mr. Thackeray targeted MPs from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Raising the matter in the House, Mr. Yadav said the Sena leader’s references amounted to contempt of the House. As to whether the notice would be referred to the Privileges Committee, Lok Sabha Secretariat officials said: “The Speaker will first examine Mr. Thackeray’s response and decide if it is a fit case to be pursued further. Only then will the privilege notice be referred to the Privileges Committee.”