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Journalism of Courage
As the BJP explores ways to get Rahul Gandhi suspended from the Lok Sabha over his critical remarks on the state of Indian democracy, made recently in London, the Congress has sought “privilege proceedings” against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making “derogatory, insulting, distasteful and defamatory” remarks against the Wayanad MP and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the floor of the House.
The move, seen as a bid to counter the BJP offensive against Rahul, was initiated by Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal on Friday. Venugopal approached Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar with a notice of question of privilege against the PM under Rule 188 of the Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Upper House.
The Congress’s counter hinges on the PM’s comments made during his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in February on the “family” not using the “Nehru” surname. Writing to Dhankhar, Venugopal termed Modi’s remarks as “preposterous”.
Venugopal said the PM’s remarks, which were also condemned by the Congress at the time, “are not only disgraceful but also insulting and defamatory vis-a-vis the members of Nehru family particularly Smt Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi who are members of the Lok Sabha”.
“I seek privilege proceedings against Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India for having made derogatory, insulting, distasteful and defamatory remarks against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi which has amounted to breach of their privileges and also contempt of the House,” added Venugopal, who is a member of the Rajya Sabha.
In his speech on February 9, Modi said, “I find it very surprising that we may at times miss out mentioning the name of (Jawaharlal) Nehru ji, and we will also correct ourselves because he was the country’s first prime minister. But I do not understand why none of them use the Nehru surname? What is the shame in using the Nehru surname? Such a great personality is not acceptable to you, to the family?”
Venugopal reiterated the Congress’s position that in India “the surname of the father is not taken by the daughter”. He added, “Despite this he (PM) deliberately mocked. The tone and tenor of the remark is insinuating and derogatory in nature.”
Days after the PM’s Lok Sabha speech, Rahul, at a rally in Wayanad, accused the former of “directly insulting” him by referring to his surname.
The Congress leader also questioned the decision not to expunge the PM’s remarks from the records of the Lok Sabha, contrasting it with the Speaker’s move to remove from the records certain comments he had made on the Adani Group and PM Modi.
Rahul said, “I asked the Prime Minister some questions. I asked him about his relationship with Mr Adani. I asked how Mr Adani has grown so fast. The Prime Minister did not answer a single question. His response to my questions was that why are you not called Nehru, why are you called Gandhi. Because generally in India … maybe Mr Modi doesn’t understand this … But generally in India our surname is the surname of our father.”
