Tamil,English: Alagiri finds middle ground

Parliament may see more of Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers M K Alagiri in the coming monsoon session. Sources in the DMK have told The Indian Express that Alagiri had met Speaker Meira Kumar along with T R Baalu towards the end of the last session and found a way out of his request that he be allowed to reply to questions in Tamil.

The Speaker could not oblige him because Article 120 of the Constitution warrants that the “Business in Parliament shall be transacted in Hindi or English”. Ministers are supposed to answer questions in either of the two languages,though members can address the House in their mother tongue after giving a prior notice to the Speaker.

The arrangement worked out at the behest of Baalu reportedly allows that Alagiri read out the written part of the “starred” questions,which have to be answered during Question Hour,while Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Srikant Jena would field the supplementary queries.

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In practice,ministers do not read written portions. They make do by just stating that the answer has been given in writing. So Alagiri will state as much in English.

Alagiri had drawn much flak for staying away from Parliament and Delhi for long durations,spending most of his time in home state Tamil Nadu.