New Delhi, Aug. 4: Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee apologised to the Lok Sabha for losing his temper when a TD member made some remarks while protesting the construction of Babli barrage.
“Madam Speaker, first of all I would like to express my regret and apology because I lost my cool and temper with one of my young colleagues, which I should not have done. But nonetheless, it has happened on the floor of the House. I sincerely apologise to the House,” Mukherjee said.
His apology came soon after TD leader Namo Nageshwar Rao expressed regret over heated exchanges in the House as he and his party colleagues stormed the well.
Rao said Mukherjee was “a very senior leader and therefore whatever has happened, we are sorry”.
Rao expressed regret when the House reassembled after two adjournments on the Babhli issue, one of which occurred after TDP members trooped into the well and had heated arguments with Mukherjee.
The House was shocked when an agitated TDP member N Sivaprasad, questioned as to why his party should stick to rules. Speaker Meira Kumar, as also Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, tried to pacify the protesting members.
As the House was adjourned by the Speaker, a visibly upset Mukherjee was heard lamenting that some members were bringing disgrace to the House. He was sought to be calmed by Swaraj as also BJP Deputy Leader Gopinath Munde.