New Delhi: BJP Lok Sabha MP Anurag Thakur moved a breach of privilege notice against Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, accusing the Leader of Opposition of violating Parliamentary rules by using “unparliamentary” language and levelling serious allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah without giving the mandatory prior notice.
The notice, submitted under Rules 222 and 223 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, urges the Speaker to admit the matter and, if deemed appropriate, refer it to the Committee of Privileges under Rule 227 for a detailed examination.
The BJP MP also accused Rahul of violating Rule 353 by making “grave and unsubstantiated allegations” against Union Home Minister Amit Shah without giving prior notice to the Speaker or the minister concerned.
According to Rule 353, members have to provide adequate advance notice before making allegations of a defamatory or incriminatory nature so that the person concerned has an opportunity to investigate the matter and respond.
Thakur alleged that Rahul did not give the Home minister a fair opportunity to reply by making serious accusations without prior intimation or documentary evidence to support his claims. Thakur also claimed that Rahul had disregarded Rules 352 and 353 earlier also.
During Lok Sabha proceedings on July 29, Rahul attacked Shah while participating in a debate on the NEET-UG paper leak and police action against students protesting in Delhi.
According to Thakur, Rahul violated Rule 352 by using words like “idiot” and “andh bhakt” while narrating a purported conversation with a student, describing the remarks as offensive, derogatory and unfit for parliamentary proceedings.
Thakur said Parliamentary Affairs minister Kiren Rijiju had objected to Rahul’s remarks during the debate and sought that they be expunged, but the Congress MP allegedly repeated the expressions despite being cautioned by the Speaker.
Rahul blamed Shah for the alleged use of disproportionated force by Delhi Police against protesters during the July 20 march to Parliament, and urged PM Narendra Modi to sack the Home minister.