Ronen Sen let off the hook by Lok Sabha committee

However, the LS passes some critical comments against him and an advisory that a diplomat should be discreet.

Indian envoy to the US, Ronen Sen, who was in soup over his 'headless chicken' remark, was on Thursday let off by the Lok Sabha Privileges Committee with some critical comments against him and an advisory that a diplomat should be discreet.

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The Committee, which had summoned Sen last month after the remark rocked Parliament during the Monsoon Session, recommended that "keeping in view the unconditional apologies tendered by Sen... The matter may be treated as closed."

"The Committee is ... Of the view that no breach of privilege or contempt of the House is involved in the matter," it said in its report tabled in the House on Thursday.

Suggesting that Sen has not covered himself with glory by such an indiscreet comment, it observed that "this matter could well serve as an advisory on what ought not to be done by a diplomat."

The controversy arose following his remark dubbing those opposed to the Indo-US nuclear deal as 'headless chicken' with MPs stalling Parliament and demanding action against him.

This is perhaps for the first time that a senior diplomat was summoned by Parliament.

The Committee, headed by V Kishore Chandra S Deo, also reminded him that "discretion in speech is more important than eloquence."

Holding that the phrase 'headless chicken' was "not used by Sen in respect of MPs or politicians", the report suggested it was directed against mediapersons.