Cell phones ring as President speaks in Central Hall

Cell phones ring as President speaks in Central Hall
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, FEB 19: So what if cell-phones are barred inside Parliament House?

Cell phones echoed in the Central Hall of Parliament on several occasions today - once even during the national anthem - as the President addressed the joint sitting of both Houses.

A MP's mobile phone rang embarassingly just when the national anthem began after President K R Narayanan was escorted into the Central Hall.

Cell-phones, which are barred in Parliament House, rang at least five times as the President read out his hour-long speech marking the beginning of the Budget Session.

A Lok Sabha bulletin said that members should not bring their cellular phones in the House or Committee room keeping in view the Speaker G M C Balayogi's observation that bringing of mobile phones in the chamber was ``a very serious matter''.

``Frequent ringing of bells of cellular phones not only disturbs the proceedings of the House or Committees but also lowers their dignity,'' it said.