New Delhi: It was an unforgettable day for Indian Railways that recorded an unprecedented profit of Rs 20,000 crore in its budget, but for those who cover Parliament it turned out to be a day that one would like to forget.
The Lok Sabha, the hallowed lower chamber of Parliament in which 545 individuals represent the dreams and aspirations of a billion plus population, took on the look of a fish market with decorum thrown to the winds and Parliamentary behaviour touching its nadir.
Such were the choice invectives that Parliamentarians hurled at one another that it made a veteran scribe, who has witnessed many a heated Parliamentary debate, remark tongue-in-cheek that the proceedings could have been labelled 'Adults Only' on the Lok Sabha television channel.
Even an otherwise strict Speaker Somnath Chatterjee was helpless in controlling the MPs, who called each other names, displayed provocative gestures and hurled abuses at one another.
The Opposition, which was upset over the delay in seeking extradition of Ottavio Quattrocchi, the Italian businessman accused in the Bofors payoff scandal, did not keep quiet for a moment. Even the ruling MPs tried to match them in lung power and abuses at the end.
It was astonishing to see how even the senior most in the opposition ranks were out of their seats and joined in the din as Railway Minister Lalu Prasad carried on gamely with his budget speech, occasionally raising his voice to a pitch in order to be heard.
There were, however, some exceptions. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Manvendra Singh was on his legs most of the time but did not join the shouting brigade. So did some of the Shiv Sena MPs.
Looking at Congress chief Sonia Gandhi directly in the face, the MPs called her a "thief" and termed Quattrocchi as "UPA (United Progressive Alliance)'s uncle."
"Whose uncle had eaten the bribe," they asked. "He is your father", retorted a ruling party MP. Most of the other remarks they uttered were unprintable.
However, many journalists noticed the firmness on Gandhi's face. "Let them shout. I am okay," Sonia was heard telling her colleagues, who apparently asked her whether she wanted the railway minister to quickly wind up his speech.
Although the opposition's rhythmic slogan-shouting made his more than an hour-long budget speech almost inaudible, Lalu Prasad's remarks like 'arrey bhai rest lo thoda (dear brothers take some rest)' and 'suno na achhi bathein hein (listen to me there, are many good things to come)' resulted in some comic interludes.
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