Don't resort to your lung power: LS Speaker to unruly MPs

Ahead of the all-party meeting called by her on Wednesday, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Tuesday said she would appeal to everyone to allow Parliament to function smoothly, amid apprehensions that the Opposition could cause disruptions over the chopper scam and other issues.

"I am not presuming anything," she said when asked whether she was apprehending disruptions in the budget session beginning on Thursday.

When referred to the all-party meeting called by her ahead of the Parliament session, Kumar said, "I will appeal to parties to let the House run. I will appeal to members not to resort to their lung power."

Asked whether she was hopeful that the parties would heed her appeal, the Speaker remarked, "I live on a feeble ray of hope."

Her comments assume significance as the session is expected to be stormy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party and Left parties gearing up to target the government over the VVIP chopper scam.

BJP has been insisting that the government needs to clarify who the beneficiary in the Rs 362 crore kickbacks and initiate a  probe into the deal.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the government is ready to discuss the issue.

BJP is also preparing to target Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde for his remark on ‘Hindu terror’.