New Delhi, March 11 After staying away for almost a week from the proceedings in the House, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla returned to the Chair on Wednesday. Members of the Lower House welcomed his return to the Chair, from an undeclared self-imposed exile, and assured him of maintaining the decorum of the House.
Birla's absence from the House was conspicuous from March 4 till March 6 when Parliament was adjourned till March 11. Sources had attributed the Birla's undeclared self-imposed absence to his being deeply hurt by the disturbances that caused constant adjournment of House proceedings.
Speaking on the return of Om Birla in the Speaker's Chair, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, "Whatever the decision will be taken, the BJP will accept it and all leaders will follow it. We will follow your final order."
Nama Nageswara Rao of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti said, "What happened in the House in the past week was not good. We should send a message to the country from the House that we are united. Your decision will be accepted by our party."
Echoing the sentiments of his colleagues in the House, Telugu Desam Party's Jaydev Galla said, "Suspension should be revoked of all the Congress members considering circumstances."
BJP's Nishikant Thakur said it has been the first time since 1952 in the history that Speaker did not come to the House for four days, which is a matter of shame.
Ever since the House had resumed proceedings on March 2, constant sloganeering and interruptions by the Congress members, over the Delhi riots, had led to frequent adjournments. Seven members of the Lok Sabha, from the Congress party were suspended on March 4 for the remainder of the Budget session which ends on April 3.
( With inputs from IANS )