APNU Member of Parliament Jaipaul Sharma this afternoon announced his resignation from the National Assembly over remarks made by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand in reference to his father CN Sharma facing statutory rape charges.
The younger Sharma, who demanded an apology from the minister after her comment on Tuesday, told reporters that he felt the ruling PPP/C would use the issue involving his father to damage the main opposition coalition.
It was while APNU Member Volda Lawrence was making her budget presentation and pointing out that men were not facing justice for statutory rape that the Minister heckled, saying, “Ask your member Sharma, your APNU chief member Sharma.” Speaker Raphael Trotman subsequently announced that he would not recognise her in the Assembly unless she apologized. Manickchand, however, stood her ground and the Speaker yesterday reversed his decision.
Excerpts from stabroeknews