November 21, 2002	Thursday	Ramazan 15, 1423

NEW DELHI, Nov 20: A member of India’s parliament settled a political exchange in the lower house Wednesday by punching his opponent, sparking a debate about the low standards of parliamentary behaviour.

But the MP, Kunvar Devendra Singh, was unrepentant.

“I wanted to speak, but was not given a chance. We are not here as spectators,” he said, explaining that he was shouted down when he wanted to raise a point about Uttar Pradesh, to which he belongs.

Singh, a member of the Samajwadi party, hit Rashid Alvire of the Bahujan Samaj Party, after a debate on Uttar Pradesh’s political issues.

Both the Samjwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party are powerful in the state and arch-rivals.

Singh escaped with a warning from speaker of the lower house, Manohar Joshi, but drew flak from other political parties.

“It is very shameful that such an incident has taken place in the lower house. It has lowered the prestige of parliament,” ruling BJP party’s spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said.

MPs in Indian parliament often stall proceedings to score political points on issues. But observers said Wednesday’s physical assault signalled the extent of deterioration in Indian politics.—AFP