Speaker threatens to quit, says LS has become a laughing stock

An agitated Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Thursday threatened to quit after a member started walking out of the House saying he was not permitted to ask a supplementary during Question Hour.

Communist Party of India-Marxist member Tarit Baran Topdar said despite his request, he was not allowed to ask a supplementary. When he began walking out, his party colleague Mohammed Salim dissuaded him from going out of the House.

Reacting to Topdar's action, Chatterjee said, "It is amazing, disturbing... Let there be a new speaker, I shall go out of the House."

Information and Broadcasting Minister Jaipal Reddy stood up and tried to calm Chatterjee. "I do not think you should be provoked by such incidents," he said.

Chatterjee said he was perturbed over the manner in which suplementaries were being asked by some members. "You should know how to put supplementaries. Nobody listens to the Chair. Why do you have it then... Do what you want to do."

Terming LS as the highest forum in the country, the speaker said the House was becoming a laughing stock for the people of the country.