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Journalism of Courage
Lok Sabha has forwarded a breach of privilege allegation against former Union minister Jairam Ramesh, levelled by BJP Chief whip Arjun Ram Meghwal to the Upper House, sources disclosed here on Thursday.
Ramesh, while delivering a lecture at Indore, hometown of Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, on May 10, had reportedly charged her with a bias. Media reports quoted Ramesh having said, “Mahajan did not allow anyone to speak about PM Narendra Modi in the House. The moment anybody stands up to talk about him, the Speaker silences them.” He added that although the post of the speaker was above political affiliations, Mahajan was biased in her actions.
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Meghwal raised the issue in Lok Sabha the next day. With Mahajan in the Chair, he said Ramesh had “put a question mark over your working and said the Speaker is not impartial.” “This is a grave allegation,” he said and pleaded that the issue be referred to the Committee on Privileges.
Since rules say that a privilege notice against an MP be considered by the House to which he belongs, Lok Sabha sent the matter to Rajya Sabha.
Now, Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari has to obtain comments from Ramesh. Thereafter, the Secretariat would examine his response and give its opinion whether or not there is a prima facie substance to merit any further processing. The Chairman can accept or over-rule the opinion of the Secretariat. It is for him to reject the complaint or send it to the Committee on Privileges for examination.
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