Parliament of India Lok Sabha House of the People

SHRI R. MUTHIAH : Mr. Speaker, Sir, with great mental agony and without peace of mind - which is there for the last four days - I am raising here an important issue. ... (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, please take your seats. What is this?

... (Interruptions)

SHRI R. MUTHIAH : With great mental agony, I am raising this issue for your consideration. ... (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: I have allowed Shri Muthiah to speak and not you.

... (Interruptions)

SHRI R. MUTHIAH : Sir, on 17.4.99 when the voting on the confidence motion was taking place here, I had voted against that motion, sitting in my seat, pressing the red button as well as the control button. It was promptly reflected from the display board also, that is, against my division number 101, a red light was glowing. All along - from the first bell onwards even after the second bell, when the entire process was taking place on that day - a red light was there against my division number. That indicates that I had voted against the motion on that day. But I do not know what had happened to the computer paper. ... (Interruptions)

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SHRI R. MUTHIAH : Sir, I have been told that it had been recorded as `no' vote against my division number 101. As far as this House and the hon. Members are concerned, if proper signal is there on the display board, that indicates that the Member had voted promptly. ... (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: It is the personal explanation of the hon. Member. Please take your seat.

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SHRI R. MUTHIAH : It is my privilege.

Had there been no red signal against my division number in the display board, I would have asked for a slip and voted through that slip. Since promptly a red light was there against my division number, I did not do it. ... (Interruptions)

SHRI R. MUTHIAH : That is what I am coming to. I had never asked for a slip and the staff also never gave a slip to me. But in some of the vernacular papers in Tamil Nadu as well as in the Sun TV, they are propagating an..* throughout Tamil Nadu that I had got a slip from the staff, put in in my pocket and gone away from here. How is it possible? A red light was there; neither did I ask for a slip nor did they give one to me. So, that question does not arise when a red light was there on the display board. ... (Interruptions)

SHRI R. MUTHIAH : Video clippings would have been taken on that day. I think, you would have gone through the video clippings. ... (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Please conclude.

... (Interruptions)

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*Expunged as ordered by the Chair.

SHRI R. MUTHIAH : From that video clippings, one can see that a red light was glowing all along against my division number 101. ... (Interruptions)

... (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Shri Baalu, I have allowed him. Please take your seat. He is giving his personal explanation. Please allow him. ... (Interruptions)

SHRI R. MUTHIAH : So, I have voted against the motion. In this context, I appeal to you because it involves my integrity and loyalty to the party as well as to my constituents. ... (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Please conclude.

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SHRI R. MUTHIAH : Hence, I request you and appeal to you. ... (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Okay.

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MR. SPEAKER: Shri Baalu, please take your seat. Shri Muthiah, please conclude.

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SHRI R. MUTHIAH : Sir, at that time, a red light was glowing against my division number and you can go through the video clippings also. ... (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, please take your seats. What is this?

... (Interruptions)

... (Interruptions)

SHRI R. MUTHIAH : Sir, you can see that I had voted against the motion. ... (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Please go to your seats. I have allowed Shri Muthiah to speak.

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MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, this is not good. Please go to your seats.

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SHRI R. MUTHIAH : Sir, even today The Indian Express has gone on record saying that I have got a slip from the staff and put it my my pocket; without putting it in the ballot box here I had gone away. ... (Interruptions) Sir, is there a system like this in this House? Is there a ballot box here? ... (Interruptions) I would like to clarify my position. ...(Interruptions). I have voted against the Motion which was very well reflected on that day against my Division No. 101. There was an indication that I had voted against the Motion. Sir, you have to kindly clarify and protect my interests. ... (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Shri Muthiah, please conclude.

... (Interruptions)

SHRI R. MUTHIAH : Sir, you are the custodian of the House. Outside the House so much harm has been done against my interests and to my future career itself. That is why I am appealing to you to kindly clarify the position. ... (Interruptions)

THE MINISTER OF POWER, MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES (SHRI P.R. KUMARAMANGALAM): Sir, I do understand the hon. Member's problem. It is an extremely embarrassing situation. I do understand that according to the procedures, there are enough counter-checks. I do understand that the photograph is normally taken of the voting pattern of the lights. I also do know that under the procedure computer also records the same. If there is a lapse at one place, then it can be verified at other place. I request the Secretariat to look into the matter because the hon. Member is embarrassed by all sorts of campaign. ... (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: Shri Muthiah, I have received your representation also apart from your raising the matter in the House. You are aware that you have also met me and represented the matter personally. I have directed that a detailed scrutiny of the matter may be made by the Secretariat. The scrutiny is going on.

I hope to come back to you in a quick time.