Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Anurag Thakur on Thursday submitted a breach of privilege notice against Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, alleging that he violated parliamentary rules by using "unparliamentary" language and making serious allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah without providing the mandatory prior notice.
In the notice, filed under Rules 222 and 223 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, Thakur urged the Speaker to admit the matter and, if considered appropriate, refer it to the Committee of Privileges under Rule 227 for a detailed inquiry.
The notice relates to remarks made by Rahul Gandhi during the Lok Sabha proceedings on July 29 while participating in a debate on the alleged NEET paper leak and the police action against students protesting in Delhi.
'GRAVE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST AMIT SHAH'
Thakur alleged that Rahul Gandhi violated Rule 353 by making "grave and unsubstantiated allegations" against Union Home Minister Amit Shah without giving prior notice to either the Speaker or the minister concerned.
Rule 353 requires members to provide adequate advance notice before making allegations of a defamatory or incriminatory nature so that the individual concerned has an opportunity to examine the matter and respond.
In his notice, Thakur claimed that Gandhi denied Shah a fair chance to reply by making serious accusations without prior intimation or documentary evidence to substantiate them. He also alleged that this was not the first occasion on which Gandhi had disregarded Rules 352 and 353.
ALLEGES VIOLATION OF PARLIAMENTARY RULES
According to Thakur, Gandhi also violated Rule 352 by using the words "idiot" and "andhbhakt" (which were later expunged from the proceedings) while recounting an alleged conversation with a student. He described the expressions as offensive, derogatory and inappropriate for parliamentary debate.
The BJP MP said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had objected to the remarks during the discussion and requested that they be removed from the record, but Gandhi allegedly repeated the expressions despite being cautioned by the Chair.
Thakur argued that such language contravened Rule 352, which bars the use of offensive expressions, defamatory remarks and personal references that question the bona fides of individuals or groups unless absolutely necessary for the debate.
'REMARKS WERE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE DEBATE'
The notice further contended that Gandhi's remarks, delivered through an anecdote involving a student, had no direct relevance to the subject under discussion and therefore violated Rule 352(viii), which requires members to confine their speeches to the matter before the House.
According to Thakur, introducing what he described as "extraneous and provocative" anecdotes to disparage sections of society amounted to misuse of the floor of the House.
SEEKS PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE PROBE
Seeking action against the Leader of the Opposition, Thakur requested the Speaker to treat the matter as a breach of privilege and contempt of the House.
In his prayer, the BJP MP alleged that Rahul Gandhi had committed a breach of privilege by using unparliamentary expressions, making remarks beyond the scope of the debate and levelling serious allegations against the Union Home Minister without complying with the advance notice requirement under Rule 353.
