Not first time remarks are expunged, people see what happens in Parliament: Shah

Amid Congress criticism of the government for removing some of its leaders’ remarks from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings, Home Minister Amit Shah has said that this is not the first time that someone’s comments made in Parliament have been expunged and that the two Houses are a place to hold debate under rules using parliamentary language.

The Home Minister also criticised the opposition sloganeering during the Prime Minister’s reply in Rajya Sabha on the motion of thanks on the President’s address in an exclusive interview with ANI, saying that people watch what occurs in Parliament. He also mentioned comments on social media platforms following PM Modi’s address in Rajya Sabha, which were constantly disrupted.

“This is not the first time when someone’s comments made in Parliament were expunged. The history of Parliament proceedings clearly shows this. Parliament is a place to hold discussion under rules, using parliamentary language,” he said.

“The entire country listens to the Prime Minister. Go to the social media platforms, and read the comments in PM Modi’s speech. Some parties take a political stand and do not want to listen to the Prime Minister’s Address, the public is seeing this also,” he said.

According to Amit Shah, people are mature and consider these considerations before voting. When asked about the severe divisions in parliament and the need for engagement, Shah said the BJP-led government had no difficulty sitting and talking with other parties.

“We do not have a problem in sitting with anybody. But the initiative has to be taken by all,” he said. Congress leaders have criticised the government for removing statements made by party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.

“Expunging of words should be done after considering all rules. We have also studied the rules as to what words they can’t expunge,” Kharge had told reporters.

According to Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the deletion of a portion of Rahul Gandhi’s speech was an attempt by the Centre to distract attention away from critical concerns. Rahul Gandhi spent practically entirely of his remarks during the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Adani problem and levelled charges against the Prime Minister.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat has requested that he answer to violation of privilege notices issued by BJP MPs. On Monday, the first phase of the budget session completed. The two Houses will reconvene on March 13, and the budget session will end on April 6.

When asked about parties and governments being in election mode regularly owing to election schedule, Amit Shah said PM Modi has talked about conducting one election from the Panchayat level all the way up to the Parliament. “I think the time has come to give this (one nation, one election) a thought,” he said.