Bharatiya Janata Party accused Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha of Breach of Privilege in the Parliament and using it as salacious means for AAP’s political victories. The AAP leader on Thursday responded to the BJP’s “forged signatures” allegations that were levelled at him.
Earlier on August 8, Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha alleged fraud after five MPs of the Upper House — S Phangnon Konyak, Narhari Amin and Sudhanshu Trivedi of BJP, M Thambidurai of AIADMK and Sasmit Patra of BJD — said that their name was included without their consent in a motion moved by Chadha in the House.
“Two members (BJD MP Sasmit Patra and BJP MP Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi) are saying that they have not signed the motion (to be part of select committee) moved by AAP MP Raghav Chadha. Now it is a matter of investigation how the motion was signed,” said Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha on Delhi Services Bill.
Earlier today, while addressing a press conference AAP leader said that hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over “forged signatures” allegations by five Rajya Sabha MPs and challenged the BJP to show him the piece of paper where they are claiming the forged signatures.
“I challenge the BJP leaders to bring the paper on which forged signatures were done,” he said.
Citing the rule book AAP leader said that MP can propose the name for the formation of any committee and neither the signature nor the written consent of the person whose name is proposed is required.
“But a lie was spread that forged signatures were done,” he added.
He further requested the media to show the truth and said that will file a case against small section of the media who were running propaganda against him.
“I request the media to show the truth. A small section of the media was running propaganda against me and I will have to file a complaint against them. I will also have to file a complaint in Court and Privileges Committee against those MPs who claimed that the signatures were forged,” he added.
On Wednesday, AAP said that Raghav Chadha has not received any such notice from the privilege committee yet and whenever the notice comes, it will be responded to effectively and comprehensively, rebutting the demand to move a Privilege Motion against the MP.
However, it is important to set the record straight, that as per parliamentary rules and procedure no signature or written consent whatsoever, is required before proposing names of members to a Select Committee, AAP statement added.
Chadha had proposed the constitution of a Select Committee to consider the ‘Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023’ and had included the names of the four MPs.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday referred the complaints of four MPs, for proposing their name for a House panel without their consent in violation of rules, to the privileges committee to examine and investigate the matter.
The chairman had received complaints from MPs Sasmit Patra, S Phangnon Konyak, M Thambidurai and Narhari Amin, who alleged a 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”.
“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,” a Rajya Sabha bulletin said.
Chaddha had proposed a Select Committee of the House to examine the Delhi Services Bill.
Meanwhile, Chadha had said that he will reply to the Privileges Committee once they send him a notice.
After eight hours of discussion and debate, the Bill to replace the Centre’s Ordinance for control of services in the national capital was passed by the Upper House after a division in which 131 MPs voted in favour of the legislation and 102 against it.
The National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was passed by the Lok Sabha last week. (ANI)
