Balm for sore throats

The Congress continued to disrupt proceedings in the Rajya Sabha this week. On Thursday, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi looked at the sloganeering Opposition MPs and, with tongue in cheek, addressed Deputy Chairman of the House P J Kurien: "Sir, should I be giving my esteemed colleagues some throat lozenges? After all, they have been shouting for so long and their voices are feeble by now. They need to take care of their throats." Kurien chose to ignore Naqvi's suggestion, potentially avoiding another round of verbal fisticuffs between Opposition MPs and indignant Bharatiya Janata Party members.