Upset Advani says he feels like resigning

New Delhi, Dec 15 : Veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani on Thursday said he feels like resigning from Parliament because of unending disruptions in both houses.

Advani, one of the country's most respected parliamentarians, also felt that the now ailing former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would have felt sad to see the situation.

Advani, who only last week expressed his disgust over the frequent bedlam in Parliament, said the house should function at least for a day and discuss demonetisation.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi thanked Advani for fighting for democratic values while Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the BJP leader was actually upset with opposition leaders.

On Thursday, as the Lok Sabha was adjourned, Advani remained seated even as other members left the house.

Textiles Minister Smriti Irani walked up to him and spoke to him. After a couple of minutes, she called Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

From the media gallery, Advani was heard telling Rajnath Singh to convey to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan that she should ensure the house runs on Friday to discuss demonetisation.

A few minutes later, Rajnath Singh and Irani left but Advani remained in his seat.

He was then joined by Idris Ali, one of the most vocal members of the Trinamool Congress.

Ali later told reporters that he enquired about his health, to which the former Deputy Prime Minister sighed: "My health is fine but the health of Parliament is not.

"I feel like resigning," said Advani, his comments audible from the media gallery.

As he was talking to Ali, two more MPs, including Nana Patole of the BJP, joined the discussion.

Idris then asked Advani about Vajpayee's health. Advani replied: "He would have been very sad to see this."

The BJP leader said the ruling and opposition leaders should meet Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and the house should debate demonetisation at least on Friday, the last day of the winter session.

"If the situation is the same on the last day as well, Parliament will be slandered.

"Such a thing has never happened in the House of Commons... adjourned for no reason. I feel ashamed," he said.

Ali complained to Advani that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was not being allowed to speak.

Advani countered: "Don't take any person's name. The issue is that Parliament should discuss the matter."

Soon after the incident, Rahul Gandhi's official Twitter handle posted a link of the report on Advani's comment, saying: "Thank you Advaniji for fighting for democratic values within your party."

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said Advani was "clearly berating his own party" and not the Congress.

"Advani is an extremely senior parliamentarian and BJP is deliberately, consciously twisting these things to suggest that his angst and anguish is against the Congress.

"It is ridiculous. Advani is clearly berating his own party. The positive proof is that you have seen today, yesterday and on Monday and some other days," Singhvi said.

Ananth Kumar, however, said Advani's wrath was targeted at the opposition. "Advaniji is upset about the way Parliament is being disrupted by opposition."

On December 7, after similar disruptions, Advani remarked that neither Speaker Sumitra Mahajan nor Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar appeared to be running the house.