Savarkar statue in France, demand BJP MPs (Parliament Diary)

There is no dearth of Indian politicians who want to build memorials for themselves or their heroes. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs joined the bandwagon Wednesday, asking for a statue of Hindutva icon Veer Savarkar to be erected - not in India - but in Marseilles, France.

"The mayor of Marseilles has agreed in favour of erecting a statue of Veer Savarkar in his city. But it needs the Indian external affairs ministry's sanction. The ministry should approve it," BJP leaders shouted during zero hour.

They said it was the 99th year of Savarkar's adventurous escape from the custody of the British authorities when they brought him to India in a ship after arresting him in London. As the ship neared Marseilles in France, Savarkar escaped and swam to the port.

He was caught by the French police and later sentenced to 50 years in 'kala paani' in India's Andaman and Nicobar islands.

This was one request the government could not dismiss right away. "The government will come up with an appropriate reply," said Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V. Narayanasamy.

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Power is power, says former comrade

If he were an MP, he would have had everything, says A.P. Abdullakutty, a former Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader from Kerala who is now with the Congress.

Asked about his accommodation in Delhi during his brief visit, he told reporters: "All rooms in Kerala House are occupied by newly-elected MPs. No room is available there. Now, I'm staying with a friend.”

“If I was an MP, I would have been provided everything. Power is power...power gives you everything," said the former MP.

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Lalu sits near exit

Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad's fortunes seem to have taken a sharp U-turn. The former Bihari politician who used to be visible in the second row in Lok Sabha - behind Congress chief Sonia Gandhi - when he was railway minister looks much mellowed, sitting in the last bench near the exit.

He was seen chatting with party colleague Raghuvansh Prasad, sitting next to him, and also spoke to a bearer standing near the exit. From 22 seats in 2004 in his home state Bihar, Lalu Prasad returned home with just four MPs in the 2009 elections.

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Do not disturb, MP is studying

If people thought MPs do no work except talk shop, they should have seen Bhawna Gawali-Patil of the Shiv Sena in parliament Wednesday. As members spoke during the discussion on the rail budget in the Lok Sabha, she sifted through the budget papers and took copious notes in a diary, giving the impression of a student preparing for exams.

A two-time MP, the 37-year-old was so engrossed that she would barely raise her head from the mass of papers on her desk. When she did, it was only to listen to other MPs making their point or to consult another member sitting near her about something in the parliament papers.

With a masters in arts in Marathi from Amravati University, she represents Yavatmal-Washim in Maharashtra.

Last updated on Jul 8^th, 2009 at 17:25 pm IST--IANS