Kharge Challenges Expunged Speech in Rajya Sabha, Demands Restoration
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Friday raised a significant issue regarding the expunging of portions from his speech during the debate on the motion of thanks to the President's address. He demanded that these sections be restored, asserting they contained no defamatory or unparliamentary content.
Parliamentary Clash Over Speech Content
Raising the matter immediately after the Zero Hour, Kharge emphasized that the expunged parts were crucial and did not violate parliamentary norms. He warned that if his request was not accepted, he would release the full speech to the public. This statement prompted a sharp reaction from Chairman C P Radhakrishnan, who firmly stated that the decision of the Chair cannot be questioned and that expunged portions cannot be released.
Rule 261 Cited in Defense of Expunging
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman intervened, quoting Rule 261 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). She explained that the Chairman has the discretion to order the expunging of words deemed defamatory, indecent, unparliamentary, or undignified from the proceedings of the House.
Kharge's Concerns Over Missing Points
Kharge detailed that his speech on February 4 included several important points on topics such as social justice and the parliamentary system. However, upon reviewing the verbatim text uploaded on the Rajya Sabha website, he discovered that a large portion had been expunged or deleted without proper justification. He asserted that his comments were factual and related to parliamentary proceedings during the current government's tenure, including criticism of certain policies of the Prime Minister in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition.
Appeal Based on Parliamentary Experience
Citing his five-decade-long parliamentary career, Kharge highlighted his commitment to maintaining the decorum and dignity of the House. He expressed awareness of the rules, traditions, and duties of the presiding officer, and respectfully requested the Chair to reconsider and reinstate the deleted portions of his speech.
