Somnath bitter on profit issue

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi

June 3: After achieving the distinction of becoming the first Marxist to complete four years as Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr Somnath Chatterjee on Tuesday sought to build bridges with the Opposition, saying he has no issue except the smooth running of Parliament.

His statement is significant as he is not on the best terms with the BJP-led Opposition.

The veteran parliamentarian, who made a history by taking a firm stand on issues like taking action against MPs involved in the cash-for-questions scam and MPLAD scheme, has been insisting that MPs should not increase their salaries, allowances and perks by themselves but through an independent constitutional body. Principally, he is against the MPLAD scheme and increase in the allocation of fund.

He took a strong position in preserving legislative independence and did not hesitate in taking on the judiciary for allegedly "encroaching on the legislature's turf".

Mr Chatterjee, who does not belong either to the ruling coalition or the Opposition, has been running the House divided on several issues. Interestingly, while the supporting parties are seen playing the role of Opposition on certain issues in the House, the ruling partners too have different stands from the government on certain issues (women's reservation bill).

During an hour-long interaction with a group of reporters at his residence here on Tuesday, Mr Chatterjee spoke on different issues pertaining to Parliament and outside, the role of the Election Commission, media coverage of parliamentary proceedings, Lok Sabha television channel and Parliament museum. His ultimate aim is to bring people closer to the great institution.

But the Lok Sabha Speaker is hurt over how the Election Commission played a "very, very dubious role" after then President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam referred the office-of-profit issue to it, acting on advice that was "not correct".

Mr Chatterjee, who completes four years in office on Wednesday, is also concerned about the image of the members of Parliament in view of growing negative perception about them.

The veteran parliamentarian, who has the distinction of a record 10 terms and 38 years as a member of the Lok Sabha, is bitter about the EC turning an investigator into the office-of-profit issue allegedly involving him.

"...Deliberately the Speaker was targeted on the basis of false information... The EC played a very, very dubious role," Mr Chatterjee said. "The EC tried to investigate when the complainant said that he has no information in support of the charge. They became an investigator. They wrote to the West Bengal government," he said, adding that he was not given any opportunity to explain his position.

Mr Chatterjee's reference was to the complaint against him by a Trinamul Congress activist on the office-of-profit issue for his heading the Santiniketan Sriniketan Development Authority.

Mr Chatterjee claimed that the EC had "no courage" to ask him for details. He said that he has the highest regard for Dr Kalam but insists that the former President was "not correctly advised".