SAD moves privilege motion against two Congress leaders

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 25

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today moved a privilege motion in the Rajya Sabha against two Congress leaders — Jairam Ramesh and Renuka Chowdhury—for their alleged misbehaviour with Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

Rising the issue in the House, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (SAD) said the two Congress leaders should either apologise for their behaviour or face privilege motion. A minister, Dhindsa said, has the right to speak in any House and the permission for the same was strictly between the Chair and the minister.

Harsimrat had sought permission of the Chair to speak on AAP leader Bhagwant Mann’s controversial video on Parliament security, he said and asked, “What right do they have to obstruct.” Dhindsa also alleged that the two had misbehaved with Harsimrat outside the House.

Both Congress leaders in question refuted the charges made by Dhindsa. Ramesh said there was no altercation outside the House and Harsimrat was only told that she was a minister and was supposed to behave with dignity.

The Union Minister has also written to the RS Chairman seeking “stern action” against both Congress leaders. Harsimrat, in her letter, has alleged that both of them used “derogatory language” against her and “violated her dignity both as a woman and a minister”.

She said, “After the House adjourned for the day, to my surprise Jairam Ramesh came rushing towards me and started using foul and offensive language without any provocation.” “Renuka Chaudhary came rushing into the House and despite being a woman started using loud derogatory language against me and called the government and its ministers kachra (garbage). Both kept screaming at me…,” she said.

Ramesh, at a press conference later in the day, said, “I am sorry that the honorable minister and a senior leader from Punjab has levelled wild allegations against me. I didn’t say anything offensive.” He said he and Chowdhury would explain their positions to the Chair.

There was an alleged spat on Friday afternoon between the two Congress leaders and Harsimrat due to the ruckus over Mann’s controversial filming of Parliament.