New Delhi: The privilege motion notice against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, brought forth by Congress members over the sharing of BJP MP Anurag Thakur’s speech in the Lok Sabha, appears unlikely to progress further. According to sources, this is due to the fact that the remarks in question have not been expunged from the House proceedings.
The controversy arose during Anurag Thakur’s speech on July 30, 2024, where the main objection raised by Congress members concerned his questioning of the caste of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. However, sources indicate that the privilege motion may not hold, as the specific remarks that allegedly prompted the notice were not expunged from the official record.
During his address, Thakur did not mention any specific names when he made the contentious statement about those whose caste is unknown demanding a census. This lack of direct reference to an individual is cited as a reason why the remarks were not considered unparliamentary and thus not expunged. The only part of Thakur’s speech that was removed from the record was his use of the word “lie,” which is deemed unparliamentary according to House rules.
While the ultimate decision on the matter lies with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, sources suggest that the privilege motion notice may not constitute a breach of privilege. This is because the basis for the motion—Thakur’s remarks—were not formally expunged.
The controversy has led to accusations of political maneuvering, with BJP sources claiming that the Congress notice is politically motivated. They pointed out that Congress MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, have previously shared videos of speeches that contained expunged portions. They argue that the Congress’s current actions are consistent with this pattern.
The notice, submitted by Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi, accuses Prime Minister Modi of breaching the privilege of the House by sharing a video on the social media platform X. The video in question included excerpts from Thakur’s speech, which Channi claimed were expunged from the official proceedings. Channi, representing Punjab’s Jalandhar constituency, asserts that Modi’s actions violated parliamentary privilege.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how Speaker Om Birla will address the notice. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between the ruling party and the opposition, with parliamentary decorum and the rules of procedure at the center of the dispute.
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