Opposition holds protest against suspension of MPs from Parliament
New Delhi (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday alleged that Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar had brought casteism to Parliament, after the Vice President had slammed a TMC leader's mimicry of him and called it an insult to his background as a farmer and Jat.
Kharge made the remarks after opposition MPs marched to Vijay Chowk from Parliament to protest the suspension of 143 MPs from the House.
The Congress president, flanked by MPs and leaders of INDIA bloc parties, alleged that it was a matter of breach of privilege of the House that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken outside Parliament while it was in session and did not apprise the House over the Lok Sabha security breach incident.
"We wanted to raise Parliament security breach issue as to why it happened and who is responsible," Kharge said.
The opposition wanted to speak on the issue but Prime Minister Modi and Home minister Shah did not turn up, even as the PM continued to make speeches elsewhere, Kharge said.
INDIA bloc leaders will protest at Jantar Mantar Friday against suspension of MPs and nationwide protests will also be held in all district headquarters against the government's "immoral and illegal" behaviour of this government.
He also alleged that the government doesn't want the House to function.
In an apparent reference to the mimicry issue and Dhankhar's remarks on it, Kharge said, "I am sorry to say that the Rajya Sabha Chairman has in a way brought casteism to Parliament by raising an issue."
A political row broke out on Tuesday after Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee derisively mimicked Dhankhar during the opposition's protest on the stairs of Parliament against the MPs' suspension, drawing strong condemnation from the ruling BJP.
Dhankhar had given vent to his anguish in Rajya Sabha, saying he was personally hurt as his farmer and Jat backgrounds were targeted.
Two more opposition members in Lok Sabha were suspended on Wednesday for displaying placards, taking the total number of members of the lower House against whom such action has been taken to 97.
With these fresh suspensions, the total number of members suspended from the Lok Sabha as well as the Rajya Sabha since December 14 has gone up to 143.
After two men jumped in the Lok Sabha chamber on December 13 and released smoke from canisters, the opposition has been disrupting House proceedings demanding a statement from Shah on the security breach.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
'Fighting Indian State itself' remark: Sambhal court asks Rahul Gandhi to reply by May 7
Sambhal (UP), Apr 4 (PTI): A court in Sambhal on Friday directed Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to file his reply by May 7 over his controversial remarks about "fighting the Indian State itself".
During the inauguration of the Congress' new headquarters in Delhi on January 15, Gandhi alleged that the BJP and the RSS have captured every institution of the country and said, "We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian State itself."
Hindu Shakti Dal national president Simran Gupta moved the application before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Special MP-MLA Court) at Chandausi in Sambhal, her lawyer earlier said.
Speaking to PTI, Gupta said, "On January 15, Leader of Opposition (in the Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi, during the inauguration of the Congress' new headquarters in Delhi, had said that 'our fight is not only with the RSS and the BJP but also with India'."
This comment demonstrates disrespect towards the citizens and democracy of the country, the Hindu Shakti Dal chief said.
"It mocks the people and poses a threat to the unity and integrity of India. This statement has hurt the sentiments of people across the country, due to which I first complained to the District Magistrate of Sambhal, SP Sambhal and others.
"But, my complaint was not heard, so I filed a case against Rahul Gandhi on January 23 in Chandausi Court, Sambhal. The court had asked Rahul Gandhi to appear on April 4. Today, the court has issued a notice and asked him to file a reply in this matter by May 7," Gupta said.
The Hindu Shakti Dal chief's lawyer Sachin Goyal told PTI, "Simran Gupta had filed a case against Rahul Gandhi in the court in which the Additional District and Sessions Judge Nirbhay Narain Rai, while accepting the case, had issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi (on March 20) and directed him to appear on April 4 or file his reply. Today, the court has given the date of May 7 in this case and directed that Rahul Gandhi should file his reply by May 7."
