NEW DELHI: As the first part of the Budget session of Parliament came to a close on Friday, Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the government has dropped plans to bring a motion against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, for using unparliamentary language against the Prime Minister, as a BJP MP has submitted a notice to initiate a “substantive motion” against the Congress leader on the same issue.
Earlier, Rijiju had said that the government would move a privilege motion against Rahul Gandhi for allegedly misleading the House and making baseless allegations in the House.
Speaking to reporters, the Union minister said that the speaker would be consulted on whether to send the matter to the House privilege committee, the ethics committee, or bring it directly to the Lok Sabha. “It has not yet been decided,” he said.
He noted that since a private member has already submitted a notice for the motion, the government will refrain from introducing its own motion.
However, Rahul Gandhi responded to the substantive motion, saying that he would not be deterred by any FIR, criminal case or privilege motion and asserted that he would continue to fight for farmers’ rights.
On Thursday, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said that he has given a notice to initiate a “substantive motion” against Gandhi, demanding the
cancellation of his Lok Sabha membership and calling for him to be barred from contesting elections for life. Dubey said that in his notice, he has stated how Gandhi visits foreign countries, joining hands with the Soros Foundation, USAID and Ford Foundation, and “colludes” with anti-India elements.
Speaker to be consulted
Speaking to reporters, the Union minister said that the Speaker would be consulted on whether to send the matter to the House privilege committee, the ethics committee, or bring it directly to the Lok Sabha. “It has not yet been decided,” he said.