‘Is truth unparliamentary?’: Opposition hits out at Parliament’s censor order

Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi tweeted, “What is the point of parliament if you can’t be creative in your criticism? Jumlajeevi ko jumlajeevi nahi bolnege to kya bolenge? Banning words is uncalled for!”

“Creativity, punch, messaging, assault on senses thru words 2bring about reform, tellingly putting across a point— all casualties under new Parl dictionary of unparl words!!how can hypricrisy, ashamed, abuse etc be banned?learn robust, incisive, penetrating debate from uk parl,” he added.

2/2creativity, punch, messaging, assault on senses thru words 2bring about reform, tellingly putting across a point— all casualties under new Parl dictionary of unparl words!!how can hypricrisy, ashamed, abuse etc be banned?learn robust, incisive, penetrating debate from uk parl.

— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) July 14, 2022

The Lok Sabha secretariat booklet listing out unparliamentary words and expressions comes ahead of the Monsoon session beginning July 18, during which the use of words like ‘anarchist’, ‘shakuni’, ‘dictatorial’, ‘taanashah’, ‘taanashahi’, ‘Jaichand’, ‘vinash purush’, ‘Khalistani’ and ‘khoon se kheti’ would also be expunged if used during debates or otherwise in both the houses. The Lok Sabha secretariat has further listed words like ‘dohra charitra’, ‘nikamma’, ‘nautanki’, ‘dhindora peetna’ and ‘behri sarkar’ as unparliamentary expressions, according to the booklet.

Slamming the move, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “All words used by the Opposition to describe the reality of Modi Sarkar now to be considered ‘unparliamentary’. What next Vishguru”.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted and said “The government’s intention is that when it indulges in corruption, it doesnt want anyone to call it corruption, rather label it as a masterstroke. They use jumlas like 2 crore jobs, doubling of farmers income, but want us to say thank you for that.”

सरकार की मंशा है कि जब वो

भ्रष्टाचार करे, तो उसे भ्रष्ट नहीं; भ्रष्टाचार को ‘मास्टरस्ट्रोक’ बोला जाए

“2 करोड़ रोजगार”, “किसानों की आय दुगनी” जैसे जुमले फेंके, तो उसे जुमलाजीवी नहीं; ‘थैंक यू’ बोला जाए

PS: संसद में देश के अन्नदाताओं के लिए आंदोलनजीवी शब्द किसने प्रयोग किया था? pic.twitter.com/eTVfch9tAI

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 14, 2022

Reacting to this, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra asked why the list of parliamentary words for the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha did not include the word “sanghi”. She attacked the government for selecting words used by Opposition “to describe how BJP destroying India and banned them”.

Baith jaiye. Baith Jaiye. Prem se boliye.

New list of unparliamentary words for LS & RS does not include Sanghi.

Basically govt taken all words used by opposition to describe how BJP destroying India & banned them.

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 14, 2022

Is “Truth” unparliamentary?

– Annual Gender Gap Report 2022 Ranks India 135 out of 146
– On health and survival subindex, India ranked lowest at 146th place
– India among only 5 countries with gender gaps larger than 5%

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 14, 2022

Lashing out at the government’s decision, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien said that he would ensure that he uses such “basic” terms. He also challenged the Speaker to suspend him.

“Session begins in a few days. Gag order issued on MPs. Now, we will not be allowed to use these basic words while delivering a speech in Parliament: Ashamed. Abused. Betrayed. Corrupt. Hypocrisy. Incompetent. I will use all these words. Suspend me. Fighting for democracy,” he said.

Session begins in a few days

GAG ORDER ISSUED ON MPs.

Now, we will not be allowed to use these basic words while delivering a speech in #Parliament : Ashamed. Abused. Betrayed. Corrupt. Hypocrisy. Incompetent

I will use all these words. Suspend me. Fighting for democracy https://t.co/ucBD0MIG16

— Derek O’Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) July 14, 2022

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