Musically yours

With the issue relating to a hike in the excise duty of petrol and diesel leading to heated exchanges between the Opposition and treasury benches, it was left to Chairman of the Upper House, Hamid Ansari, to dissolve the tension. With some Opposition members asking lengthy supplementary questions, Ansari observed that the impact of Indian classical music was so profound that we seem unable to ask a question without a prolonged "aalaap" (sung in the beginning of the raag). This led to a round of laughter and Left leader Sitaram Yechury quipped that since an aalaap has been permitted, the chair would now have to allow House members to ascend to the "taan" (a rapid weaving of musical notes in a vocal performance).