‘Parliament can not abdicate accountability to respect my proper’: Rahul writes to LS Speaker once more

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi once more wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, on Tuesday, requesting his permission to answer the allegations raised towards him by 4 BJP ministers in Parliament. This comes days after he mentioned that ‘if Indian democracy was functioning, he will be allowed to speak in the Parliament’ at a press convention.  

Rahul is within the eye of a storm over his “Indian democracy under siege” remarks.  Both Houses of Parliament haven’t been functioning for greater than per week because the BJP and authorities are adamant about in search of an apology from the Congress MP. At least 4 Union ministers have sought Gandhi’s apology over his remarks throughout his speech at Cambridge University the place he mentioned that Indian democracy was beneath assault and alleged that mikes had been typically switched off in Parliament when Opposition members communicate.

In his letter dated March 18, the Wayanad MP mentioned that he’s in search of permission to talk in Lok Sabha beneath the conventions of Parliamentary observe.

ALSO READ | Rahul tears into RSS & BJP, says he doesn’t worry them

“I had written to you on March 17th seeking your permission to respond to totally baseless and unfair charges hurled at me by senior Ministers in the Lok Sabha. I am making such a request again. I am seeking this permission under the conventions of Parliamentary practice, the constitutionally embedded rules of natural justice, and Rule 357 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha,” he mentioned within the letter.

Rahul attended Parliament on March 16, for the primary time after the controversy broke out over his ‘democracy’ remarks. However, because the House acquired adjourned after the ruckus, the Congress chief didn’t get a possibility to answer the allegations of ‘maligning India on foreign soil.’

Later in a press convention, Rahul mentioned that he met the Speaker Om Birla and sought a possibility to answer the allegations, Birla was non-committal. “Four ministers have spoken against me in the Lok Sabha. It is my right to respond to them. If Indian democracy is functioning, I would be able to say my piece in Parliament,” he had mentioned.

ALSO READ | Democracy comment row: BJP calls Rahul Gandhi ‘Mir Jafar of Indian polity’

In the letter, the Congress chief additional elaborated on Rule 357, which supplies “personal explanations”.

“Under Rule 357, a member may, with the permission of the Speaker, make a personal explanation although there is no question before the House, but in this case, no debatable matter may be brought forward, and no debate shall arise,” it mentioned.

He additional mentioned “Members of the ruling regime have made scurrilous and defamatory claims against me both within and outside Parliament. As a result of these allegations, and the rules invoked by these individuals, it is only appropriate that you kindly allow me a right to reply as contained in Rule 357 which allows for ‘personal explanations’.”

The former Congress President additionally elaborated with an occasion of former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad invoking Rule 357.

ALSO READ | Parliament standoff: Both Houses adjourned amid uproar over Adani, Rahul

“I have taken the liberty of annexing an example where Hon’ble MP (and then Minister) Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, invoked the Rule to explain comments made by Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia about him in Parliament,” he mentioned.

“Furthermore, there are several examples available on the Lok Sabha Digital Library which show that this right isn’t restricted to responding to statements made within Parliament but extends to allegations made in the public domain as well,” mentioned the letter.

“Parliament like any other institution is bound by the Rules of Natural Justice contained in Articles 14 and 21 of our Constitution. They are a guarantee against administrative arbitrariness and ensure that every person has a right to be heard in a cause with which they are concerned,” he mentioned.

Stating that Parliament can not abdicate the accountability to respect the correct to talk, Gandhi mentioned that as he will likely be away in Karnataka and Kerala on March twentieth and twenty first, the Speaker ought to enable him to talk on the earliest.

“Surely, you would agree that Parliament of all institutions cannot abdicate the responsibility to respect this right when it doesn’t suit the ruling regime. I hope the above satisfies your query and that you will allow me a right to reply in the Lok Sabha at the earliest,” he mentioned. 
 

NEW DELHI: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi once more wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, on Tuesday, requesting his permission to answer the allegations raised towards him by 4 BJP ministers in Parliament. This comes days after he mentioned that ‘if Indian democracy was functioning, he will be allowed to speak in the Parliament’ at a press convention.  

Rahul is within the eye of a storm over his “Indian democracy under siege” remarks.  Both Houses of Parliament haven’t been functioning for greater than per week because the BJP and authorities are adamant about in search of an apology from the Congress MP. At least 4 Union ministers have sought Gandhi’s apology over his remarks throughout his speech at Cambridge University the place he mentioned that Indian democracy was beneath assault and alleged that mikes had been typically switched off in Parliament when Opposition members communicate.

In his letter dated March 18, the Wayanad MP mentioned that he’s in search of permission to talk in Lok Sabha beneath the conventions of Parliamentary observe.googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

ALSO READ | Rahul tears into RSS & BJP, says he doesn’t worry them

“I had written to you on March 17th seeking your permission to respond to totally baseless and unfair charges hurled at me by senior Ministers in the Lok Sabha. I am making such a request again. I am seeking this permission under the conventions of Parliamentary practice, the constitutionally embedded rules of natural justice, and Rule 357 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha,” he mentioned within the letter.

Rahul attended Parliament on March 16, for the primary time after the controversy broke out over his ‘democracy’ remarks. However, because the House acquired adjourned after the ruckus, the Congress chief didn’t get a possibility to answer the allegations of ‘maligning India on foreign soil.’

Later in a press convention, Rahul mentioned that he met the Speaker Om Birla and sought a possibility to answer the allegations, Birla was non-committal. “Four ministers have spoken against me in the Lok Sabha. It is my right to respond to them. If Indian democracy is functioning, I would be able to say my piece in Parliament,” he had mentioned.

ALSO READ | Democracy comment row: BJP calls Rahul Gandhi ‘Mir Jafar of Indian polity’

In the letter, the Congress chief additional elaborated on Rule 357, which supplies “personal explanations”.

“Under Rule 357, a member may, with the permission of the Speaker, make a personal explanation although there is no question before the House, but in this case, no debatable matter may be brought forward, and no debate shall arise,” it mentioned.

He additional mentioned “Members of the ruling regime have made scurrilous and defamatory claims against me both within and outside Parliament. As a result of these allegations, and the rules invoked by these individuals, it is only appropriate that you kindly allow me a right to reply as contained in Rule 357 which allows for ‘personal explanations’.”

The former Congress President additionally elaborated with an occasion of former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad invoking Rule 357.

ALSO READ | Parliament standoff: Both Houses adjourned amid uproar over Adani, Rahul

“I have taken the liberty of annexing an example where Hon’ble MP (and then Minister) Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, invoked the Rule to explain comments made by Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia about him in Parliament,” he mentioned.

“Furthermore, there are several examples available on the Lok Sabha Digital Library which show that this right isn’t restricted to responding to statements made within Parliament but extends to allegations made in the public domain as well,” mentioned the letter.

“Parliament like any other institution is bound by the Rules of Natural Justice contained in Articles 14 and 21 of our Constitution. They are a guarantee against administrative arbitrariness and ensure that every person has a right to be heard in a cause with which they are concerned,” he mentioned.

Stating that Parliament can not abdicate the accountability to respect the correct to talk, Gandhi mentioned that as he will likely be away in Karnataka and Kerala on March twentieth and twenty first, the Speaker ought to enable him to talk on the earliest.

“Surely, you would agree that Parliament of all institutions cannot abdicate the responsibility to respect this right when it doesn’t suit the ruling regime. I hope the above satisfies your query and that you will allow me a right to reply in the Lok Sabha at the earliest,” he mentioned.