Rahul Gandhi row: Amid a row that erupted following Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s final journey to London over his remarks on democracy, he asserted that he has the right to respond in Parliament to the “totally baseless” and “unfair charges” hurled at him by senior ministers in the Lok Sabha.
In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Gandhi invoked Rule 357 which permits for “personal explanations” and in addition cited the instance of BJP MP after which minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who invoked the Rule to clarify feedback made by Jyotiraditya Scindia about him in Parliament
“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 in his letter to the Speaker.
Citing Rule 357, Gandhi mentioned, “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.”
What Congress says
The Congress chief mentioned members of the ruling regime have made “scurrilous and defamatory claims against me” each inside and outdoors 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’,” he mentioned.
He additionally claimed that there are a number of examples out there on the Lok Sabha Digital Library which present that this right is not restricted to responding to statements made inside Parliament however extends to allegations made in the general public area as properly.
“Finally, Parliament like every other establishment is certain by the Rules of Natural Justice contained in Articles 14 and 21 of our Constitution. They are a assure against administrative arbitrariness and be certain that each particular person has a right to be heard in a trigger with which they’re involved.
“Surely, you’d agree that Parliament of all establishments can not abdicate the duty to respect this right when it does not go well with 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,” Gandhi instructed the Speaker and added that he will probably be away in Karnataka and Kerala on March 20 and 21.
Why this uproar?
Gandhi’s democracy remarks have triggered an enormous political row, with the BJP accusing him of maligning India on international soil and searching for international interventions and the Congress hitting again, citing situations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi elevating inside politics overseas.
During his interactions in the United Kingdom not too long ago, Gandhi had alleged that the buildings of Indian democracy are underneath assault and there’s a “full-scale assault” on the nation’s establishments.
The Congress has mentioned that Gandhi needs to converse in the Lok Sabha to make clear the remarks. The BJP is accusing the Congress chief of searching for international intervention and has been stalling each homes of Parliament whereas demanding an apology from him.
Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have failed to transact any important enterprise thus far due to the deadlock in the course of the second a part of the Budget session of Parliament that began on March 13.
(With inputs from PTI)
