Adhir Chowdhury Requests Lok Sabha Speaker To Expunge Rajnath Singh's Remarks On Rahul Gandhi
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Monday following a massive outcry over Rahul Gandhi's remarks about "democracy under attack" at a number of engagements during his tour of the UK.
Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday, seeking that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's statement in which he made "certain comments on Rahul Gandhi" be removed.
Congress Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury writes a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla requesting him to expunge the statement of Defence minister Rajnath Singh where he made "certain comments on Rahul Gandhi". pic.twitter.com/bTxaL1i0DN
— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2023
"Sir, I may add that Rule 352 provides inter-alia that a member while speaking shall not make personal reference by way of making an allegation imputing a motive to or questioning the bona fide of any other member of the House," the letter read.
"Rule 353 also states that no allegation of a defamatory or incriminating nature shall be made unless the member has given adequate notice to the Speaker. Moreover, 357 provides that Speaker shall allow a member to make a personal explanation if something has been alleged against him," the Congress MP said.
According to the letter, "Today, both the Hon'ble Ministers made unsubstantiated remarks against our leader without prior notice and no opportunity was accorded to the members of his party to refute the allegations."
"In view of the above, I request you to expunge the statement of Shri Rajnath Singh Ji," he said.
The Lok Sabha was deferred for the day on Monday after a massive outcry over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks about "democracy under attack" at numerous engagements during his tour to the UK, with senior ministers seeking an apology from him.
On the first day of the second leg of the Budget Session, the BJP MPs demanded an apology from Gandhi, while the Opposition benches demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation into the Adani-Hindenburg problem.
Following obituary references in the House, Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister and Deputy Leader of the Lok Sabha stood up and charged Gandhi with attempting to discredit India in London through his remarks on Indian democracy.
"Rahul Gandhi, a Lok Sabha member, went to London to 'discredit' India, claiming that the country's democratic system is crumbling. He also stated that foreign powers should intervene to save India's democracy. He attempted to "deeply hurt" India's honour and prestige "He stated.
Gandhi recently claimed in London that the structures of Indian democracy are under "brutal attack," with a "full-scale assault" on the country's institutions.
Singh also requested that Speaker Om Birla order the House to condemn Gandhi's remarks and direct the Congress leader to apologise.
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