NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday cautioned Independent MP Pappu Yadav against putting his arms around Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu while proceedings were underway.
Yadav, seated next to Naidu, was engaged in an animated conversation and briefly placed his arm around the minister’s shoulder, prompting Birla to intervene.
Sources indicated that Yadav was discussing an airport for his parliamentary constituency, Purnia in Bihar. Birla’s caution came a day after he reminded Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to maintain House decorum.
On Wednesday, Birla had told Rahul Gandhi to adhere to the rules expected of MPs to uphold the dignity of the House, a remark that the Congress leader later called “unsubstantiated.”
“It is expected of you to uphold the high parameters of decorum and sanctity of the House,” Birla had said, addressing Gandhi. “There are several incidents in my knowledge when MPs’ conduct was not in accordance with upholding the high parameters of decorum. Fathers, daughters, mothers, wives, and husbands have been members of this House. So, in this context, I expect the LoP to conduct as per the rules… It is especially expected of the LoP to maintain their conduct.”
