Parl-ya ment?

In Rajya Sabha today, the questions hurled at the finance ministry (er?) were on private sector insurance, the bit I caught, and how they need to be tightly regulated.

When Brinda Karat stood up to give what looked like a mini speech, with repeated requests from the Chair to ask her question, everyone looked in a good mood. Pranab Mukherjee got up and had just taken over the mantle from NN Meena, repeated what Meena said and also gave a brief history on insurers. Then, he went on to speak about regulation.

"I am not enamored of setting up committees, and then set up committees to check on committees and so on. I am not into enhancing activities."

Then Rahul Bajaj got up and before he could talk, there was a mini uproar.

"I am not talking of Bajaj, I am talking of insurance."

"Mr.Bajaj please resume your place," the Chair.

But, the mini furor refused to abate and the Chair had to intervene.

"Please don't introduce extraneous matters, please Mr. Bajaj, please Mrs. Karat."

The camera caught Rahul Bajaj winking, and moved to a morose looking Arun Jaitley.

Then a member of INC Gujarat got up to ask his question, who again, somewhat inspired by Brinda Karat, made a rather provocative little speech.

"Sir, I go back before the NDA regime, when some of us in Congress were opposed to private sector insurance companies."

"Please ask your question."

"Sir, I am giving some history."

"No history, please."

Uproar.

"Baith jaiye Pani sahab."

"What is the question?"

...goes on..when finally Pranab got up he looked so totally red in the face, flushed with anger.

"Every company has the right to expand. It is the government's responsibility to give a level playing field to public as well as private insurance companies."

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