New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) It was a mock session in which Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gopinath Munde became ‘speaker’ and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav became ‘prime ministers’, but the exercise drew disapproval from Speaker Meira Kumar.
The mock session happened soon after the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day following the uproar created by members over salary hike demand and protest over passage of the medical council bill without discussion.
In the mock session, during which BJP MP Maneka Gandhi spoke, debate was held on the medical council bill.
Speaking to reporters later, Munde said it was a symbolic protest against the way the government had rushed through the medical council bill.
He said that there should have been discussion on the important legislation.
‘The MCI bill should have been passed after discussion. It is against parliamentary traditions,’ Munde said.
Answering queries, he denied that the mock session was a challenge to the parliamentary system. ‘We not making any joke,’ he said.
He said the party wanted that the opposition’s view should be taken on the medical council bill and they will discuss the issue with the chair Saturday.
He said the issue of salary hike of MPs did not figure in the mock session, which lasted over 45 minutes.
BJP sources said the party had taken a dim view of the mock session.
Speaker Meira Kumar disapproved of the mock parliamentary proceedings. Responding to queries, she said that the temple of democracy should be treated with utmost reverence.
Lalu Prasad told reporters later that he was ‘elected prime Minister for today’.
‘We will see what is to be done tomorrow. I heard the views of the house and the people’s government decided to reject outright the bills cleared today,’ he said, adding that ‘members of the new government’ will meet Tuesday at 10 a.m. to discuss bills and other issues.
He said the government was acting in an ‘unconstitutional and undemocratic’ manner by clearing the bills without debate.
