NEW DELHI: The controversy over the "headless chicken" remark of Indian envoy to the US Ronen Sen has been put to rest with the Rajya Sabha Privileges Committee recommending closure of the issue. Like the Lok Sabha Committee, the Rajya Sabha panel too decided to close the issue since "Sen has tendered unconditional and sincere apologies".

"In view of Sen's acceptance of having made the impugned remarks and that the same were unwarranted, and having tendered his unconditional apology, the Committee recommends that the matter should be allowed to rest here," the Rajya Sabha Committee said in its report tabled in the House.

The Lok Sabha Privileges Committee, which had summoned Sen last month after the remark rocked Parliament during the Monsoon Session, last week decided to close the issue.

The Rajya Sabha panel, headed by Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan, noted Sen's admission that it was certainly not his intention to cast aspersions or call into question the motives of MPs. It, however, felt that his remarks were not only in "poor taste but also unwarranted".

The Committee also said no issue of breach of privilege could be made out with regard to envoy's comment on BJP leader Yashwant Sinha. Noting in a democracy there would always be dissensions and divergence of opinion and everyone was legitimately entitled to have a point of view on a sensitive issue, it said the personal frame of mind should not have influenced public utterances of a senior and experienced diplomat.

"The Committee expects that such lapses, as admitted by him shall not recur," the report said.

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