Mayawati 'respects' Hamid Ansari

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati, who had criticised Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari and questioned his responsibility, on Thursday said she respects him.

Addressing the Chairman in the Upper House, Mayawati said: "I respect you. I respect the Chair."

"I have full faith in the Chair that he is going to find a way to get the voice of the downtrodden heard," she said.

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister stunned the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday when she hit out at Ansari and questioned his responsibility.

"In the last few days, we have seen that every day the House is not allowed to function after 12 PM. It is your responsibility to ensure that it functions. Who will ensure that it functions," Mayawati said.

"You are not seen here after 12 PM... What kind of House is this? You have to take decision that what has to be done for this," the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said.

Mayawati made the comments at a time when she was protesting against the frequent disruptions in the House over the SC/ST promotion quota bill, reports said.

After Mayawati´s comments, Ansari told her: "You are a senior leader...The House is running right now. You please allow the House to run."

Ansari was forced to adjourn the House for sometime after Mayawati´s MPs raised slogans.

As per the traditions of the Parliament, the Chair is never questioned by a member on how it conducts the functioning of the House.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday called Ansari to convey his "distress" over Mayawati's outburst at the Vice President.