NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday alleged that the leader of the party in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has been suspended from the House with a view to keeping him away from the meetings of the Public Accounts Committee which receives the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge said, “We believe in doing things today which are to be done tomorrow, and doing things now which are to be done today. When will you accomplish a task if there is a holocaust? Our policy is for things to be done early and on time.”
Kharge said small issues do come up during debates in a democracy. Members say certain things about each other. If those things are very unparliamentary and hurt someone deeply, then it can be said that it is unparliamentary and is not proper.
Turning to the matter of Chowdhury’s suspension from the Lower Sabha on Thursday during the debate on no-confidence motion, he said, “But there (in the Lok Sabha), our (leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha) Adhir Chowdhury was suspended on flimsy grounds. He only said Nirav Modi. Nirav means 'shant', silent. You suspended him for saying Nirav Modi?”
Dhankhar appeared reluctant to engage Kharge and said, "It happened in the other House."
According to rules and convention, matters of one House are not discussed or commented upon in the other House.
However, Kharge went on with his comments. He said, “I am pleading with you, vice-president and India and chairman of this House because you have to protect democracy.”
Talking about the technical difficulties in the way of Chowdhury upon his suspension, the leader of opposition said, “This is not done because he is on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). How will he attend its meetings? He is on the Business Advisory Committee? How will he manage? He is also a member in the selection panel of CBI director and CVC (Central Vigilance Commissioner). It has been done to deprive him of all these institutions. It is not good to suspend him.”
In a post on X, he said it is an infringement of his rights.
Later, members of the opposition parties gathered near the statue of Baba Saheb B R Ambedkar. Talking to media persons, Kharge said, “We the people of all INDIA parties have gathered near the statue of Babasaheb Dr Ambedkar ji because the Constitution is being torn apart by the Modi government. The BJP government and especially Modi ji do not want to run the House according to the Constitution.”
He alleged that the treasury benches threaten every member and are keeping aside the rules and regulations of the Business Advisory Committee. This is happening for the first time that every member is being suspended and sent to the privilege committee, he alleged.
Kharge said, “However, our Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury ji is the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). This is being done so that he does not join the PAC. The CAG report points out the shortcomings of the government and it goes to the PAC. He has been suspended so that he does not even attend the PAC meetings.”
He pointed out that the government has suspended Chowdhury in the same manner as it had suspended Rajni Patil in the Rajya Sabha, that is he has been suspended till the report of the privilege committee comes. “We will continue to fight against such illegal activities of the Modi government,” he said.
Patil had been suspended during the budget session for recording the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha and uploading the video clip on social media. Her matter was sent to the privileges committee which revoked her suspension earlier this week.
Meanwhile, Chowdhury, after being suspended from Lok Sabha, defended himself. Talking to media persons outside the Parliament, he said, "I have not insulted PM Modi. Modi ji speaks on everything but he is sitting ‘Nirav’ on the Manipur issue. ‘Nirav’ means to be silent. My intention was not to insult PM Modi.”
He said PM Modi did not feel that he was insulted. “His 'darbaari log' (courtiers) felt so and brought this proposal (of suspension) against me. I came to know that (the matter) has been referred to the privileges committee and that I have been suspended. I am ready to face the punishment but everything is on record and citizens of the country should know that there was no attempt to insult the PM,” he added.
