Somnath shows displeasure at silent MPs

Agencies

New Delhi: Showing displeasure at MPs who had not asked a single question in Parliament in their five-year tenure in the 14 Lok Sabha, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Wednesday said those who voted for these MPs did not want "silent members".

"Naturally voters who vote for them (MPs who did not ask any question in Lok Sabha in last five years) do not want silent members," Chatterjee told reporters on Parliament premises. However, the Speaker said nobody could compel the MPs to ask questions. "How can you compel them to speak?" he said.

The 15th and last session of the current Lok Sabha comes to an end on Thursday. Barring a few regulars, who attend the House religiously and also participate in the proceedings, there is a sizable number which has remained largely apathetic to the proceedings.

The Speaker has been vocal about the conduct of MPs in the Lower House. He has used the harshest terms while reprimanding them for their misconduct in the House.

"You do not deserve one paisa of public money," Chatterjee had told some members, who were disrupting House proceedings, last week. He had "hoped" that people of the country would give a "fit verdict" in the coming elections. He, however, regretted making the comment a day later.