Besides ‘Unparliamentary’ Words, What Else Is Banned In Parliament?

New Delhi: A day after a list of ‘unparliamentary’ words kicked up a storm, Lok Sabha secretariat issued another advisory prohibiting distribution of any kind of pamphlets, leaflets or holding up placards in the House during monsoon session.

“As per established convention, no literature, questionnaire, pamphlets, press notes, leaflets or any matter printed or otherwise should be distributed without the prior permission of Hon’ble Speaker within the precincts of the House. Placards are also strictly prohibited inside the Parliament House Complex,” read Friday’s order.

An earlier bulletin had already barred Opposition parties from staging any “demonstration, dharna, strike, fast or for the purpose of performing any religious ceremony” within the Parliament House.

The latest advisory comes after Opposition leaders created ruckus for being denied permission to hold demonstrations and dharnas.

Jairam Ramesh, senior Congress leader and the party’s chief whip in Rajya Sabha, was among those who hit out against the circular.

Hitting out at the government, sharing a copy of the circular, he said:

“Vishguru’s latest salvo – D(h)arna Mana Hai!”

CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury tweeted: “What a farce. The attempts to muzzle the soul of India, its democracy and its very voice will fall flat.”

There have been a number of demonstrations and huge uproar by Opposition parties on a number of issues during the past few Parliament sessions. Placards and pamphlets have been torn and thrown at the Chair, there have been walkouts with placards to stage dharna, thereby disrupting Parliamentary debates and discussions.

The Monsoon session of Parliament begins on July 18.