Friday, August 11 2006 09:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's stinging letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee yesterday (Aug 10, 2006) evoked sharp criticism from parties, barring those belonging to BJP-led NDA, which expressed strong 'resentment' and demanded that he should express 'regret for undermining' the chair.

"Cutting across party lines, political parties, except those of NDA, attended a meeting presided by Mukherjee. They criticised Vajpayee's letter to the Speaker and felt that it is direct reflection on the chair.

"They expressed strong resentment against Vajpayee undermining the chair and requested Mukherjee to hold talks with the leader of the Opposition how to rid of this impasse", Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told reporters.

Accordingly, he said Mukherjee would be talking to Advani on this issue.

"We have requested Mukherjee to respond to the issue and consult the leader of the Opposition," he said.

Asked if they were demanding an apology from the former Prime Minister, Dasmunsi said, "Regret is enough. Leader of Opposition is there to say so."

Leaders of TDP, SP, BSP, PDP and MDMK were among those who attended the meeting, he said. JD(s) leader H D Deve Gowda has also expressed full support to the Speaker on the issue.

The Lok Sabha was yesterday plunged into turmoil amid repeated clashes between Left and BJP members over Vajpayee's letter to the Speaker critical of his conduct.

As soon as the House met for the day, Left members, agitated over Vajpayee's letter, demanded an apology from him for 'denigrating' the Chair. This was strongly objected to by BJP members.