Lok Sabha Speaker's lunch for Parliament members, others

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Tuesday arranged lunch for members and staff of Parliament as well as media persons to mark the new year as per the Hindu lunar calendar.

The Speaker made an announcement for the afternoon meal soon after the Lok Sabha met at 11 a.m., while extending new year wishes to members.

"The house wishes the country's people on new year, celebrated in different parts of the country by different names like Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, Chaitra Shukladi, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba," the Speaker said.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, on a lighter note, complained that the Speaker had extended new year wishes but the MPs did not get a holiday to celebrate Ugadi and other festivals.

"If I had given a holiday we would not have been able to celebrate the new year together. At times, we must celebrate new year together," the Speaker said.

Mahajan then invited the MPs for lunch in one of the courtyards of Parliament House, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

An MP, who did not wish to be named, said the vegetarian lunch also comprised food items meant for those observing Navratra fasts, a nine-day religious festival that started on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who fasts during Navratras, also joined the MPs at the lunch but did not eat.

Lunch boxes were distributed to Parliament staff and journalists later.

This is the first time such a lunch has been organised in Parliament complex for any new year celebration.

--IANS

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