Tharoor-Dubey ‘face-off’ over remark plays out in House

Tharoor, however, did not name Dubey, with whom he has had multiple face-offs in the Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT — the BJP member has even written to the Speaker seeking Tharoor’s removal as chairman of the committee.

Reacting to Tharoor’s submission, Dubey said he was trying to point out that speakers should stick to clauses of the Bill being discussed.

“It is extremely regrettable that this kind of accusation is made,” Tharoor said during Zero Hour. “First, the claim itself is false — there is no pending case against me, and the accusations being referred to have been dismissed by a court of law. To say what he said constitutes misleading the House and the Chair.

“Second, even if a case had been pending against me, or against any other member of this House, that does not preclude them from being able to participate in the deliberations of this august body. Third, if the said member was still determined to make personal attacks on a fellow member, he should have filed a notice duly under the Rules,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP said.

Referring to Dubey, Tharoor also said, “An MP keeps citing rules and continues violating them with impunity when it comes to actually repeatedly making unwarranted accusations.”

Tharoor said in 13 years as an MP he has often raised issues of national importance and public policy. He said he did not hear the remark that day, but it was brought to his notice later and he found them in the transcripts and recording.

“Is this what the discourse in this House has come to? I urge the Speaker to please ensure that this issue is condemned, that this kind of a thing is not repeated by any member against any other member of this House,” he said. “It has been happening too often with this particular individual.”

Dubey said he was reminding that during debates Opposition MPs often raise allegations against BJP chief ministers, Union ministers and even a Rajya Sabha MP who is a former Chief Justice of India. “I was trying to tell the MP that if you pointed a finger at someone, the other four fingers will be pointing towards you,” Dubey said.