New Delhi, September 28, 2023 – In a significant development, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has referred complaints filed by multiple Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding the contentious issue surrounding BJP member Ramesh Bidhuri’s use of objectionable language against BSP’s Danish Ali to the Privileges Committee, according to sources.
The incident in question occurred on September 22 when Ramesh Bidhuri made derogatory remarks, which were later expunged from records, directed at BSP member Danish Ali during a discussion in the Lok Sabha about the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, who was present during the session, expressed regret over Bidhuri’s conduct.
Following the incident, Ali and several other opposition MPs, including Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and DMK’s Kanimozhi, wrote to the Speaker, urging him to take appropriate action against Bidhuri. On the other hand, some BJP parliamentarians, including Nishikant Dubey, contended that Danish Ali had “incited” Ramesh Bidhuri with provocative remarks when he was speaking in the House and requested the Speaker to investigate this as well.
Speaker Om Birla, taking note of the seriousness of the situation, issued a stern warning to Bidhuri, emphasizing that strict action would be taken if such behavior was repeated in the future. The BJP also served Bidhuri with a show-cause notice.
In response to the incident, Danish Ali wrote to the Speaker, requesting an inquiry by the Privileges Committee and categorizing Bidhuri’s comments as “hate speech.” Furthermore, a coalition of opposition parties also wrote to Birla, demanding action against Bidhuri.
However, within the BJP ranks, there were voices advocating for an examination of Danish Ali’s behavior. Nishikant Dubey, while condemning Bidhuri’s conduct, urged the Speaker to scrutinize Ali’s actions as well, a sentiment echoed by other BJP MPs.
In a recent development, the Speaker has referred all the complaints related to this matter to the Privileges Committee, which is chaired by BJP MP Sunil Kumar Singh. This decision has garnered attention and sparked discussions among political circles.
Nishikant Dubey, in a statement, expressed his gratitude to the Speaker for taking this step. He highlighted the BJP’s majority in the Lok Sabha and referenced past incidents where similar issues went uninvestigated and unpunished.
Dubey recalled incidents from the past, such as the 2006 altercation involving RJD-JD(U)-Congress members, an incident involving Sonia Gandhi in 2012, and the commotion and injuries to parliamentarians in 2014 during the formation of Telangana as a separate state.
The referral of this matter to the Privileges Committee has heightened expectations regarding its outcome, with both supporters and critics closely watching the proceedings as they unfold.
The Privileges Committee’s decision will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for parliamentary conduct and the handling of such incidents in the future. It remains to be seen how this committee will address the various concerns raised by MPs from across the political spectrum.(PTI)
