Uproar in Parliament over Ambassador Sens remarks on nuke deal

Parliamentarians today cut across party lines to condemn Indian Ambassador to the United States Ronen Sens statement, in which he allegedly called the Left headless chickens for opposing the Indo-US nuclear deal.

New Delhi, Aug 21 : Parliamentarians today cut across party lines to condemn Indian Ambassador to the United States Ronen Sen's statement, in which he allegedly called the Left "headless chickens" for opposing the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Lawmakers disrupted parliamentary proceedings, forcing the adjournment of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Some asked the Government to recall Sen.

The treasury benches said they regretted the comments if they were true, but that did not placate the MPs.

Sen, in an interview published on Indian news website rediff.com on Monday, defended the controversial civilian nuclear cooperation deal.

"It has been approved here by the President, and there it's been approved by the Indian cabinet,' rediff.com quoted Sen as saying in Washington.

"So, why do you have all this running around like headless chickens, looking for a comment here, or comment there, and these little storms in a tea-cup?" Sen said.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said he had spoken to Sen and asked him to issue a clarification as the ambassador said he had been misquoted in some places and some comments were published "either deliberately or through misunderstanding".

"I have asked our ambassador to issue a clarification. These comments, if made by our ambassador and reported correct, are totally unwarranted and unacceptable. In democracy there will always be dissension and divergence of opinions," Mukherjee said.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Saba, L K Advani demanded that the full text of interview be made available to the House.

"Let the House be given the full text of the interview of that he has given, and after that we will make a considered comment on it and then demand whatever action we think is appropriate," he said.

Condemning the comments, the Left parties said parliamentary affairs wereeyond the envoy's domain and that he must be recalled.

"It is not for him to speak on these issues. Parliament has sovereignty and parliament has every right to discuss any issue and any policy. It is not his domain. The House feels very strongly about his remarks and the House thinks his remarks must be condemned and he must be called back," said Communist Party of India (CPI) National Secretary D. Raja.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said there was no difference of opinion between the Government and Opposition on this issue.

"There is no clash on this between the Opposition and the Government. No one can permit this action. If this is found to be true, tough action will be taken," Lalu said.

Meanwhile, Sen apologised over his comments and said that the remark "running round like headless chicken" concerned some of his media friends and not the MPs.

"My comment about running round like headless chicken looking for a comment here or a comment there was a tactless observation on some of my media friends and most certainly not with reference to any honourable MP," he said in a message read out by Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha.

Sen also said that he had no intention to cast aspersion on any individual or organisation. "However, if I have unwittingly hurt any sentiments, I offer my unqualified apologies," he said.

However, Sen's clarification failed to pacify the agitating MPs, including those from the Left, the BJP and the UPA, who together demanded his recall.

ANI