NEW DELHI, March 31: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today made a faux pas in the Lok Sabha when he referred to senior Congress leader Balram Jakhar as a member of the treasury benches. ``It will take sometime for old habits to die,'' Vajpayee, who has been in the Opposition benches for nearly four decades, told an amused House when his slip was pointed out.Vajpayee while replying to the debate on motion of thanks on the President's address said the debate was initiated from the ruling benches by Balram Jakhar, sending the House into peals of laughter.
``Coming events cast their shadows,'' quipped Janata Dal leader S Jaipal Reddy.
Later, the Prime Minister said that his party had played the role of responsive Opposition for many years.
He hoped that this would be reciprocated by the new Opposition now ``for a long time.''
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
