INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday referred breach of privilege complaints of MPs against AAP's Raghav
Chadha to privileges committee for examination.Chadha is accused of falsely including names of some Rajya Sabha members in the proposed list
of a select committee to examine the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, popularly known as Delhi
services bill.A Rajya Sabha bulletin released on Wednesday said the chairman had received complaints from MPs Sasmit Patra, S Phangnon
Konyak, M Thambidurai and Narhari Amin, who alleged breach of privilege by Chadha "for inter-alia including their names without their
consent, in violation of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, in a motion on August 7".Chadha had proposed the constitution of a
the four MPs."On consideration of the facts, the Hon'ble Chairman, Rajya Sabha has referred the matter under Rule 203 of Rules of Procedure
and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) to the Committee of Privileges for examination, investigation and report,"
the RS bulletin said.In the complaints, it was alleged that Chadha did not seek consent from the four members in "gross violation" of the
rules."Moving a motion of Amendment to a Bill and giving consent to be a Member of a Select Committee is the prerogative of Members of the
Council."However, a Member while exercising such discretion should not misuse the process by making any attempt to demean and disregard
similar prerogatives available to other Members."In the instant case, since the consent of the aggrieved Members was never allegedly
obtained, it prima facie appears to be a gross violation of the Rules and dignity of the aggrieved Members," the bulletin said."Such
transgression by a Member of the Council in the exclusive domain of other Members is unethical and a grave act of impropriety and
misconduct," the Rajya Sabha bulletin also said.Rule 72 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya
Sabha) regarding the Select Committee of Rajya Sabha provides that the members of a Select Committee on a Bill shall be appointed by the
Council when a motion that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee is made."No Member shall be appointed to a Select Committee if he is
not willing to serve on the Committee
The mover shall ascertain whether a member proposed to be named by him is willing to serve on the Committee
Casual vacancies in a Select Committee shall be filled by appointment on a motion made in the Council," the rule says.During the debate on
August 7 in the Rajya Sabha on the Delhi services bill, tabled by home minister Amit Shah, the AAP MP had proposed the setting up of a
select committee to examine it.However, just before voting took place on the bill, at least three members - Sasmit Patra of the BJD, M
Thambidurai of the AIADMK and S Phangnon Konyak of the BJP - stood up and alleged that their names had been included in the list without
their consent.After the deputy chairman read out the names to be included in the proposed select committee, home minister Shah informed that
five members have complained that their names were included without their signatures in the proposal moved by the AAP leader.Shah took
strong exception to the complaints aired by the MPs and said forgery of signatures may also have taken place
He requested deputy chairperson Harivansh, who was presiding over the proceedings, to get the matter probed
He termed it a breach of privilege of the House and said the matter should be referred to the privileges committee.Giving his observation,
Harivansh said the complaints of the MPs will be probed
Later, the Rajya Sabha passed the bill that gives the central government control over bureaucrats in the Delhi government
In the voting that took place, the bill was passed by 301 votes in its favour and 102 against it.However, AAP leaders defended Chadha and
Don't you know that no one's signature is required to propose the name in the Select Committee? Do not spread lies and rumours, Home
"Those (MPs) who said that Raghav Chadha forged their signatures, they lied because there was no signature
Breach of privilege motion action can be taken against them
Just like they (Centre) disqualified Rahul Gandhi by creating a false case, BJP wants to do the same with Raghav too
These people are very powerful and can do anything
But we are not afraid of them," Bharadwaj claimed.Senior AAP leader Atishi also claimed that the BJP accusing Chadha of forgery is "an
attempt to take away his Parliament membership"
"It is BJP's attempt to take away the Parliament membership of Raghav Chadha through the backdoor, just like Rahul Gandhi's membership
was revoked," she alleged.(With agency inputs)
