New Delhi: The row over BJP leader Anurag Thakur’s apparent reference to Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s caste in Lok Sabha escalated Wednesday. The Congress submitted a notice to Speaker Om Birla to move a privilege motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sharing a video clip of the Hamirpur MP’s speech that contained remarks expunged from the proceedings of the House.
Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi submitted the notice to Birla to move a privilege motion under Rule 222 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, which allows a member, “with the consent of the Speaker”, to raise a question involving a breach of privilege of the House.
“The Prime Minister’s tweeting of remarks which had been expunged from the proceedings of Lok Sabha clearly amounts to a breach of privilege and contempt of the House. I, therefore, contemplate to move a privilege motion against the Prime Minister and request you to please admit my motion and permit me to move the same. request that privilege proceedings may be initiated against the Prime Minister,” Channi’s notice read.
Thakur’s remarks invited loud protests from the Opposition benches Tuesday. Rahul himself stood up, saying while he did not want an apology from Thakur, the INDIA bloc would get a caste census conducted after coming to power. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also slammed Thakur, saying his reference to a member’s caste in the House was not acceptable.
On Tuesday evening, Modi posted on X a link of the Sansad TV clip of Thakur’s speech. “This speech by my young and energetic colleague, Shri Anurag Thakur is a must hear. A perfect mix of facts and humour, exposing the dirty politics of the INDI Alliance,” the PM wrote.
This speech by my young and energetic colleague, Shri @ianuragthakur is a must hear. A perfect mix of facts and humour, exposing the dirty politics of the INDI Alliance. https://t.co/4utsqNeJqp
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 30, 2024
In a statement, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh also called out Sansad TV for uploading Thakur’s speech without editing out the expunged remarks. Over the years, the Congress has repeatedly attacked Sansad TV, the sole channel that broadcasts Parliamentary proceedings, for acting in a partisan manner.
Ramesh said that Jagadambika Pal, who was presiding over the House when Thakur spoke, had assured Opposition MPs that the BJP leader’s disputed remarks would be expunged.
“In a departure from all parliamentary norms — expunged comments are edited out of videos uploaded online — Sansad TV has uploaded the unedited speech, and the non-biological Prime Minister has shared and praised it publicly. This is a new and shameful low in the annals of India’s parliamentary history. It reflects the BJP-RSS and Mr. Modi’s deep-rooted casteism,” Ramesh posted on X.
“This speech that the non-biological Prime Minister calls a ‘must hear’ is a highly abusive and unconstitutional tirade – and by sharing it, he has encouraged a serious breach of Parliamentary privilege. Former Union Minister Anurag Thakur brought Parliamentary discourse to a new low by asking a fellow MP and the Leader of Opposition about his caste identity,” he added.
This speech that the non-biological Prime Minister calls a ‘must hear’ is a highly abusive and unconstitutional tirade – and by sharing it, he has encouraged a serious breach of Parliamentary privilege. Former Union Minister Anurag Thakur brought Parliamentary discourse to a new… https://t.co/tF75hK1sPd
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 31, 2024
Opposition parties refer to Modi as “non-biological” after he told an interviewer before the Lok Sabha elections that he was “sent by god”.
In his notice, Channi said it was well established that publication of expunged words or expressions would amount to a breach of privilege. The Supreme Court had reiterated the position in a case involving English daily The Searchlight, the former Punjab chief minister added.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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