From Jal Khambata

NEW DELHI: AIADMK group leader P H Pandian, known for his
controversial rulings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, created a
flutter in the Lok Sabha on Monday, passing strictures against
the Vajpayee Government while presiding in the afternoon session
as the chairman.

The ruling BJP and allies' members up in arms against Pandian
pronouncing his ruling to deprecate the government for raising
prices of cooking gas and other petroleum products within days
of the House adjourning last month for a month's recess.

He observed that the Government should have taken the Lok Sabha
into confidence before raising the prices since it was not
prorogued and as such it was "technically in session."

The ruling came in the wake of Petroleum Minister Ram Naik
making a suo moto statement regarding increases in the petroleum
product prices effected from March 22.

The Opposition members protested at the increases effected
behind the back of Parliament after the same Naik assuring the
House during the last month's session that there was no move for
the hike.

Even as the Opposition benches cheered Pandian for pulling up
the government, some members from the ruling benches even left
their seats to protest at propriety of his ruling.

Pandian retorted that he would amend the ruling if anyone could
show it was wrong. "I am not going to gain anything from the
ruling. I have only stated the Constitutional position that the
House was not prorogued," he asserted and went on to point out
that he had not spared even the ministers while presiding over
the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

He asserted that the Chair's ruling cannot be challenged. A
sheepish Ram Naik avoided confrontation by simply urging Pandian
to have a look at what he has ruled and revise it if he finds it
appropriate himself.

Pandian did not allow the matter to continue any further as he
quickly switched over to "Matters Under Rule 377" and the ruling
benches chose to quietly withdraw to their seats and end the
protest. END.
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