With the winter session ending Friday, all eyes are now on Parliament — and Rahul Gandhi. Even if a discussion on demonetisation is allowed in Lok Sabha on the last day, the Congress leader may not find the going easy. The BJP is ready with a strategy to counter him if he were to speak on the “information” he claims to have on the “personal corruption” of the Prime Minister, a claim the BJP has dismissed as the “joke of the year”. Plus, the rule book allows the Speaker to stop Rahul Gandhi if he were to elaborate on allegations of personal nature. Watch what else is making news: According to Rule 352 (ii) of Lok Sabha Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, a member while speaking “shall not make personal reference by way of making an allegation imputing a motive to or questioning the bona fides of any other member of the House unless it be imperatively necessary for the purpose of the debate being itself a matter in issue or relevant thereto”. Nor can he, under Rule 352 (v), “reflect upon the conduct of persons in high authority unless the discussion is based on a substantive motion drawn in proper terms”. Rule 353 too states: “No allegation of a defamatory or incriminatory nature shall be made by a member against any person unless the member has given (adequate advance notice) to the Speaker and also to the Minister concerned so that the Minister may be able to make an investigation into the matter for the purpose of a reply”. The same rules provides that “the Speaker may at any time prohibit any member from making any such allegation if the Speaker is of opinion that such allegation is derogatory to the dignity of the House or that no public interest is served by making such allegation”.
