The Hindu Business Line : Of mangoes and Laluji

In a deft move to bring laughter and placidity in the House, Mr Somnath Chatterjee lost little time in cracking, "Mangoes and Laluji are both sweet".

After some pandemonium and adjournments because of the none-too-smooth relations between principal Opposition party and the ruling coalition on several political and economic issues during most of the current winter session, the last day in the Lok Sabha saw some bonhomie and moments of mirth.

It all began at the last few minutes of Question Hour when the Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh, was explaining the efforts of the Government in ensuring higher mango exports to advanced countries, in response to a question raised by Congress member Mr S. Kharventhan.

In all earnestness, Mr Ramesh was briefing the House about how after over two decades, Japan had recently lifted the ban on Indian mangoes and is allowing six varieties, including `Alphonso', `Langra' and `Chausa'.

He said, "we are negotiating with the United States, Australia and New Zealand for expanding our mango export."

Laluji walks in

As he was making this observation, a beaming Railway Minister, Mr Lalu Prasad, who has been acquitted in a disproportionate assets case by the Special CBI Court on Monday, entered the House amid applause and thumping of desks by the members of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress and other UPA constituents.

A visibly flummoxed Mr Ramesh, mistaking the applause for Mr Lalu Prasad, as the appreciation of the efforts of the government for marketing of mango to developed world, blurted out: "I thought the applause is for mango exports!"

Quite conscious of the spontaneous reaction his entry caused in the House, the Railway Minister walked briskly to the front row of Treasury Benches to get greeted by his ministerial colleagues, Mr Shivraj Patil and Mr Kamal Nath, even as there were murmurs of jeers from the Opposition. RJD members were nimble enough to demand an apology from the Opposition, adverting to the Minister's acquittal from a case filed by the CBI.

Sensing potential bout of shouts between Opposition and Treasury Benches, the Speaker, Mr Somnath Chatterjee, lost little time in cracking, "Mangoes and Laluji are both sweet" in a deft move to bring laughter and placidity to the proceedings.

Joining the mood, Mr Ramesh, who was on his feet, said Bihar too would benefit as part of the efforts to step up mango exports to cash in on the growing popularity of the succulent fruit.