Rahul Gandhi writes to Lok Sabha Speaker, seeks permission to respond to "scurrilous" allegations by BJP leaders
Mar 21, 2023
New Delhi [India], March 21 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has again written to Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, seeking permission to speak in the Lower House to respond to the allegations levelled against him by the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders over remarks made by him in the United Kingdom.
"I had written to you on March 17 seeking your permission to respond to totally baseless and unfair charges hurled at me by senior ministers in the Lok Sabha. I am making such a request again. I am seeking this permission under the conventions of Parliamentary practice, the constitutionally embedded rules of natural justice and Rule 357 of the Rules and Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha," Gandhi said in his letter.
He said that the Rule 357 of the Rules and Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha allows him to respond to the allegations.
Citing Rule 357, Rahul Gandhi stated, "A member may, with the permission of the speaker, make a personal explanation although there is no question before the House, in this case, no debatable matter may be brought forward, and no debate shall arise".
Hitting out at the BJP, the Congress leader termed the allegations against him as "scurrilous" and "defamatory".
"Members of the ruling regime have made scurrilous and defamatory claims against me both within and outside Parliament. As a result of these allegations, and the rules invoked by these individuals, it is only appropriate that you kindly me a right to reply as contained in Rule 357 which allows for personal explanations," Gandhi said.
BJP leaders have accused Gandhi of "defaming" the country and have been demanding an "apology" from the Wayanad MP
During his visit to the United Kingdom, Rahul Gandhi had talked of "institutional framework getting constrained".
"Everybody knows and it's been in the news a lot that Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack. I am an Opposition leader in India, we are navigating that (Opposition) space. The institutional framework which is required for a democracy - Parliament, free press, the judiciary, just the idea of mobilisation, moving around - all are getting constrained. So, we are facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy," he had said.
At another event, he had alleged that various institutions in the country were under threat."It shocked me how successful they have been at capturing the different institutions of our country. press, judiciary, parliament, and Election Commission are all under threat and are controlled in one way or the other," Rahul Gandhi had said.
He had also termed the RSS a "fundamentalist" and "fascist" organisation alleging that it has captured almost all of India's institutions.
The second leg of the Budget session has been seeing repeated disruptions due to the continued logjam between the ruling party and the Opposition. While BJP has demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi, the Opposition is persisting with its demand for a JPC probe into the Adani issue.
The second leg of the Budget session commenced on March 13 and will conclude on April 6.
