Supriya, Kanimozhi protest curtailment of time for asking

Oppostion MPs led by NCP's Supriya Sule and DMK's Kanimozhi Friday protested in the Lok Sabha over not being given enough time to ask supplementaries during the Question Hour.

However, Speaker Om Birla said it was a decision of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC).

Oppostion MPs protested as soon as the Speaker moved to the next question after Union minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani replied to a listed question related to cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

"Sir, this is an important question and you have not allowed a single supplementary. We want to ask supplementaries on the subject," said Sule, who was supported by Kanimozhi and some other women MPs from the opposition.

However, the Speaker said that at a meeting of the BAC, leaders of political parties had suggested that maximum number of questions should be taken up during the Question Hour, which resulted in curtailment of time earmarked for supplementaries.