While replying during the Budget debate in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was looking angry. This prompted BJP chief whip Surinder Singh Ahluwalia to stand up and intervene. Though Mukherjee doesn’t like any interventions while speaking, he likes Ahluwalia and so asked softly, “Are you saying anything, Surinder?” Ahluwalia replied in Bengali, “Dada, why are you getting angry? Why don’t you smile while you reply to this debate?” Soon, another BJP MP, Bhagat Singh Koshyari from Himachal Pradesh, decided to try his luck and wanted to intervene. This time, Mukherjee was not so generous and said, “I will not yield to anyone in this House. If the Leader of Opposition (Arun Jaitley) wants to intervene, of course, I would listen to him but not you.”
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app