New Delhi:
"Don't call us anarchists", was the refrain that greeted Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari, as Parliament began this morning.
Members across the board asked Mr Ansari to take back what he said yesterday, during disruptions in the house over allegations against Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra.
"Every single rule in the rule book, every single etiquette is being violated," Mr Ansari had said angrily, "Do you wish the House to become a federation of anarchists?"
He was exasperated at relentless slogan-shouting from BJP and Congress members. TDP members were also protesting against the decision to carve out a separate Telangana state, wearing shirts with slogan 'Save Andhra Pradesh, Save Democracy'.
Later in the day, the opposition and the government united in asking the chairman to expunge the word "anarchists".
Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley reiterated on Wednesday: "We have the highest regard for you. There are precedents when things said in heat of the moment. Anarchy is complete chaos; in the house opinions are expressed... We urge you to consider setting the record straight as far as the word anarchism is considered."
In rare support of the BJP leader, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) member Sitaram Yechury added: "I wasn't present when you made the comment, but if the house has taken it this way, then you should rectify it."
But the chairman said, it was not an allegation against anybody. Not convinced by their arguments, Mr Ansari said he would refer his own remarks to the Secretariat for a review. "The Chair is not a part of the government. The Chair is a referee in a hockey match. There is a rule book and red and yellow cards are given out."
Referring to frequent disruptions in the House, Mr Ansari said he wanted to cure an ailment that was "endemic", and said he would call a meeting of all leaders on rules for members.
Members across the board asked Mr Ansari to take back what he said yesterday, during disruptions in the house over allegations against Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra.
"Every single rule in the rule book, every single etiquette is being violated," Mr Ansari had said angrily, "Do you wish the House to become a federation of anarchists?"
He was exasperated at relentless slogan-shouting from BJP and Congress members. TDP members were also protesting against the decision to carve out a separate Telangana state, wearing shirts with slogan 'Save Andhra Pradesh, Save Democracy'.
Later in the day, the opposition and the government united in asking the chairman to expunge the word "anarchists".
Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley reiterated on Wednesday: "We have the highest regard for you. There are precedents when things said in heat of the moment. Anarchy is complete chaos; in the house opinions are expressed... We urge you to consider setting the record straight as far as the word anarchism is considered."
In rare support of the BJP leader, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) member Sitaram Yechury added: "I wasn't present when you made the comment, but if the house has taken it this way, then you should rectify it."
But the chairman said, it was not an allegation against anybody. Not convinced by their arguments, Mr Ansari said he would refer his own remarks to the Secretariat for a review. "The Chair is not a part of the government. The Chair is a referee in a hockey match. There is a rule book and red and yellow cards are given out."
Referring to frequent disruptions in the House, Mr Ansari said he wanted to cure an ailment that was "endemic", and said he would call a meeting of all leaders on rules for members.
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