The first phase of the Parliament’s Budget session, which ended today, witnessed a fierce showdown between the Centre and the Opposition for the most part. The latest flashpoint is centered around the move to expel Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s expulsion from the Lok Sabha.
The government announced on Thursday that it will move a Privilege Motion against Rahul over his alleged use of unparliamentary language against PM Narendra Modi. A day later, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday (February 13) said the government has decided not to move its own motion as a BJP member has already submitted a notice seeking action on the same issue.
Will Rahul Gandhi be expelled?
Speaking to reporters, Rijiju said the matter of LOP’s alleged use of unparliamentary language would be taken up in consultation with the Speaker. The Speaker will then decide whether it should be referred to the Privileges Committee, the Ethics Committee or brought directly before the Lok Sabha. “It has not yet been decided,” he added.
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Rijiju added that since a private member has initiated the process, the government will refrain from introducing a separate motion.
Nishikant Dubey’s notice seeking ‘substantive motion’
The development follows BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s notice seeking a “substantive motion” against Gandhi. Dubey has demanded the cancellation of the Congress leader’s Lok Sabha membership and has called for him to be barred from contesting elections for life. A substantive motion is a self-contained proposal placed before the House to express its decision or opinion on a specific matter.
In a letter to Speaker Om Birla, Dubey accused Gandhi of acting against national interests and alleged that the Congress leader maintains links with foreign organisations such as the Ford Foundation and individuals like billionaire George Soros. He further claimed that Gandhi’s foreign engagements and statements were part of a broader effort to “destabilise the country from within”.
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Rahul Gandhi citing ‘Four Stars of Destiny’
The immediate trigger for the political row was Gandhi’s reference in the House to Four Stars of Destiny, an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General MM Naravane. Despite a prior ruling from the Speaker prohibiting the citation of unpublished material, Gandhi displayed a copy of the book during his remarks.
His actions were protested by Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Kiren Rijiju, among others in the House and Gandhi was ultimately not allowed to finish his speech. The Lok Sabha was adjourned later following chaos by members.
The next phase of the Budget session will begin from March 9. |
