NEW DELHI: After the Congress and other opposition leaders moved a breach of privilege motion against HRD Minister Smriti Irani for “misleading” the House, on Tuesday it was the BJP’s turn to hit back seeking similar action against Congress’ chief whip Jyotiradtiya Scindia for making a ‘wrong’ statement, with a notice against JD(U)’s KC Tyagi also in the offing.
Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya gave a notice of breach of privilege against Scindia for “misleading” the House on February 24 during his speech on the JNU issue and Rohith Vemula’s suicide. Dattatreya alleged Scindia had referred to his letter to Irani, alleging he had spoken against Vemula. Dattareya said his letter made no mention of the student’s name. He contended he had even tried to correct Scindia during the debate, but Scindia had not listened.
On Tuesday, Dattatreya said, “My mother used to sell onions. I have always worked for OBCs, Dalits... I have made sacrifices for Dalits,” he said. He said his letter to Irani, over which he has been attacked, did not name Vemula. “I never made such charges against him.”
A similar breach of privilege motion is likely to moved against JD(U)’s Rajya Sabha MP KC Tyagi. Tyagi, during the debate in the Upper House, on the JNU issue said police had not entered the campus after Emergency, a claim disputed by treasury benches, saying at least on three occasions police had entered the JNU campus.
Congress and Left have given notice of a privilege motion against Irani for “misleading” the House on Vemula’s suicide. When the Rajya Sabha met on Tuesday, senior Congress leaders such as Ghulam Nabi Azad asked the Chair about the notice. PJ Kurian, Deputy Chairman of the House, said the matter was under consideration.
In the Lok Sabha, the BJP’s chief whip Arjun Ram Meghwal said he and many other members, including Dattatreya had given notice against Scindia. At this, Congress members rushed to the Well, demanding Speaker Sumitra Mahajan decide on their notice of privilege motion against Irani.
Congress members continued to protest with K C Venugopal showing the Speaker the rule book, to which Mahajan shot back, saying, “Don’t show me the rule book. I know.”
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