Date:14/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/14/stories/2008031460351200.htm

National

Congress benches full, to hear Rahul

Special Correspondent

— Photo: V. Sudershan

steals the show: AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi arriving in Parliament in New Delhi on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: As word circulated about Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi’s intervention in the budget discussion in the Lok Sabha, Congress benches began filling up in anticipation on Thursday. He was the third in line to speak, and the impatience in the Congress ranks was evident with the party members heckling the preceding speakers to wrap up quickly.

Reading from a prepared text, Mr. Gandhi finished his speech in 15 minutes. He preferred to speak from his designated place in the backbenches despite Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal offering him an opportunity to come up front. After the speech, all made a beeline for Mr. Gandhi to congratulate him, particularly on the flexibility he sought in the farm loan waiver scheme.

Government takes note

And, it was clear that the government had taken note with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi immediately collecting a copy of his written speech to hand it over to Minister of State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal, who asked him to pass it on to officials seated in the gallery.