Let there be peace, Speaker appeals

New Delhi: Observing that three out of ten days of sittings in the Monsoon Session have been lost due to uproar in the House, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee sought the cooperation of members in running the House so that people's problems could be raised.

Maintaining that he had tried to allow "all possible issues" to be raised for discussion subject to rules and time constraint, he said in a letter to all Lok Sabha MPs on Sunday to "help and cooperate" in running of the House "so that we can show to our people that we are sincerely and devotedly making endeavours to solve problems of the people and of our great nation".

"We have a solemn duty to be an active and effective participant in the process," the Speaker said.

The letter comes in the backdrop of vociferous scenes which led to abrupt adjournments of the House for three days in the ongoing session.

Chatterjee said his earnest appeal to MPs was to see that "the precious time of the House is utilised fully in discharging our responsibility as per the people's expectations".

The people of the country have "reasonable expectations that their chosen representatives will give priority to their issues and problems and find out solutions", he said.

The Speaker said many MPs have been demanding, "if I may say so, reasonably, that the House should sit for more days in a year but on the other hand, the House has not been able to transact any of major part of the business even on all days fixed".

Observing that he was elected to the office unanimously, he said "since this responsibility has come to me, which was quite unexpected and of course, unsolicited, I have been trying in my humble way, in regular consultations with leaders of different parties and groups, to carry on my onerous duties".

Chatterjee said he had not only sought the help and cooperation of Leaders and members, but also for "suggestions and guidance as to how we can discharge our important duties in a manner which will meet the expectations of the people of this country".

He hoped that the letter would be "taken in spirit in which it has been written".