Opposition Chief Whip calls out Speaker again over “biased” treatment of Opposition MPs during Budget debate; Speaker responds

In a statement this morning, Opposition Chief Whip, Christopher Jones pointed to the Speaker interrupting the presentation of Opposition Member Sherod Duncan about using unparliamentary language when he quoted former US President Barack Obama and the word “corruption” was contained in the quote.

Opposition Chief Whip calls out Speaker again over “biased” treatment of Opposition MPs during Budget debate; Speaker responds

With the budget debates wrapping up today, Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir is once again facing accusations of being biased against the Opposition and unfair in his treatment of Opposition Members in the Assembly.

In a statement this morning, Opposition Chief Whip, Christopher Jones pointed to the Speaker interrupting the presentation of Opposition Member Sherod Duncan about using unparliamentary language when he quoted former US President Barack Obama and the word “corruption” was contained in the quote.

Jones said the Speaker made no interruption and issued no warning when Culture Minister Charles Ramson Jr. in his presentation used the word “fool” while quoting a writer and making reference to the Opposition.

Jones said there is a clear pattern of bias behaviour from the Speaker that continues. He said throughout the debate, the Speaker continues to show his true colours.

In response to the press statement, the Speaker said he has been trying his best to ensure fairness in the Assembly and if his attempts to be fair is seen as him being biased against one side, then so be it.

“Yes, I allowed one particular phrase from one Minister, and from the other side too, but when it started becoming abusive, I stopped it from both sides. If that is biasness, I accept biasness,” the Speaker told the House.

Since his assumption to the Office of the Speaker, Mr Nadir has been accused of side-lining and silencing the Opposition with a number of its proposed motions being rejected or continuously deferred.

Nadir once headed The United Force, but ditched that party when he was offered a Government Minister position under a former PPP Government. Since then, he has maintained close ties with the PPP and has campaigned openly for the PPP in past elections.

The party he once headed, The United Force has dwindled into a shell of its former self.

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