Two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Members of Parliament have formally moved a notice alleging breach of privilege and contempt against several opposition MPs. The action comes after significant disruptions during a key parliamentary debate this week.
Notice Filed for Disciplinary Action
BJP parliamentarians Nishikant Dubey and Sanjay Jaiswal submitted the notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. They have urged him to take strict disciplinary measures against the named opposition members for continuously obstructing the House's proceedings. The incident occurred when Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was piloting the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, also known as the VB-GRAMG Bill.
Official sources have confirmed that Speaker Om Birla is currently examining the matter. The Speaker had previously expressed criticism regarding the excessive disruption on Wednesday, noting that some MPs had even approached the table of Lok Sabha officials in an attempt to halt the proceedings.
Opposition MPs Named in the Complaint
In his detailed notice, Nishikant Dubey specifically named eight opposition members from various parties. The list includes Hibi Eden, Dean Kuriakose, S Murasoli, K Gopinath, Sashikant Senthil, Shafi Parambil, S Venkateshan, and Jothimani.
Dubey's letter to the Speaker accuses these MPs of deliberately hindering the smooth functioning of the House. He stated they created obstructions for Minister Chouhan and the officers assisting the House. "As such, this is misconduct in the presence of the House, disobedience to the authority of the Speaker, and obstructing officers of the House in the discharge of their duties," Dubey argued. He emphasized that these actions constitute a clear breach of privileges of Members of Parliament collectively and contempt of the House.
The BJP MP has urged Speaker Birla to ensure such incidents do not recur by taking appropriate action against the accused members.
Chaotic Scenes During Bill Debate
The notice stems from chaotic scenes witnessed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. When Minister Chouhan was responding to the debate on the VB-GRAMG Bill, opposition members rushed to the Well of the House. In a dramatic protest against the provisions of the bill, which seeks to replace the two-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), they tore copies of the proposed legislation and stood on tables.
Simultaneously, the Speaker's office is also reviewing other significant issues. These include an opposition notice for the removal of Madras High Court Judge GS Swaminathan from office and a separate complaint filed against a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP for vaping inside the Lok Sabha chamber, an act that violates the nationwide ban on e-cigarettes.
Government Lauds Productivity Amidst Disruption
As the parliamentary session concluded, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju presented the government's perspective. He lauded the sitting as a milestone in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "reform express", highlighting the passage of several key legislations covering rural employment, insurance, and nuclear energy.
Rijiju termed the session "very productive", noting that eight bills were passed after debates in both Houses. He asserted these laws would accelerate the reform process aimed at improving the everyday lives of common citizens.
However, he strongly criticized the opposition's conduct during the VB-GRAMG Bill debate. "The opposition's behaviour... was unacceptable. Some of the opposition members even stood atop the desks of the table office and the secretary general," Rijiju stated. He also blamed the opposition for the absence of a discussion on air pollution in Delhi-NCR, claiming the government was keen to hold the debate but the Congress party insisted on continuing its loud protest.
Despite the disruptions, Speaker Om Birla noted that the Lok Sabha's productivity topped 111%. The session was also marked by an extended discussion lasting over 11.5 hours to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram.
