Harsimrat mulls privilege motion

Seema Kaul

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 22

Accusing Congress’ Rajya Sabha member Renuka Chaudhry and Jairam Ramesh of misbehaving with her in Parliament, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today threatened to move privilege motions against them. 

Addressing reporters outside Parliament, the Lok Sabha MP from Bathinda said, “I am shocked at the way these Congress MPs spoke to me, they were so rude. I will move a privilege motion against them.” 

“For them, the lives of our jawans, our people hold no value. The video clip (posted by AAP’s Bhagwant Mann on social media) could fall in wrong hands. It shows the mindset of the Congress,” she said. “I have nothing to do with their Bill,” she added.

The Congress had issued a whip in the Rajya Sabha as a private members Bill on Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act was to be taken up for consideration and passage. 

As the Upper House reconvened for the post-lunch session, BJP MPs started demanding action against Bhagwant Mann. Harsimrat repeatedly tried to speak on the issue. “Let me introduce Bills then I will listen to you....Why do you do this?” said Deputy Chairperson PJ Kurien as he attempted to restore order in the House.

As the ruling party MPs continued with the protest, the House was adjourned for the day. The Congress accused the BJP of deliberately stalling the Rajya Sabha proceedings on the pretext of the Bhagwant Mann issue to block the passage of the private members Bill on the Andhra Reorganisation Act.

“It is just theatrics to divert attention. They are losing Punjab badly. She manipulated the situation to block the private member’s Bill on Andhra reorganisation. She has done a disservice to the people of Andhra Pradesh. Over 50 ex-MPs, ex-MLAs and other leaders from Andhra Pradesh cutting across party lines had come to Delhi especially for this Bill. Their visit has gone waste,” Renuka Chaudhry told The Tribune. The SAD minister’s disruption was deliberate. “She is most welcome to file a privilege motion, if she wants,” she added.

According to procedure, in case a Lok Sabha member wants to move a privilege motion against members of the Rajya Sabha or vice versa, it has to be routed through the office of the respective chambers.

“That’s wrong. She is a Lok Sabha MP. She should have raised the issue in the Lok Sabha. Why did she come to the Rajya Sabha? It proves that the SAD is with the BJP in blocking this Bill,” Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told The Tribune after the House was adjourned for the day.