Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that for the “benefit of television cameras”, the Opposition “grossly misused” the provision of “point of order” during discussions in the House.
Mr. Jaitley’s remarks created a furore and the House was adjourned thrice, with the Opposition demanding that they be expunged.
Mr. Jaitley, who is the Leader of the House, made the statement while objecting to the issue raised by Congress MP Anand Sharma that the current government was undermining the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien did not allow Mr. Sharma to continue. In response, an agitated Mr. Jaitley said, “Normally, the Chair uses its discretion for point of order. The practice is being grossly misused. Therefore, the Chair should also be guided by principles that you cannot have a Zero Hour for benefit of television cameras. The whole speech [of Mr. Sharma] should be expunged … even the Chair is bound by rules and you cannot dictate the constitutional authority.”
As he was sworn in on Tuesday, President Ram Nath Kovind did not mention the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in his speech, drawing the ire of the Congress.
Sharma’s plea
Mr. Sharma, however, said he had not referred to any high dignity. To this, Mr. Jaitley said, “We know the spirit of what you are saying.”
Mr. Jaitley said some other members had also given notices and the Chair must protect their rights as he referred to a notice by BJP member Subramanian Swamy to raise the 2007 Samjhauta Express blast case suggesting that crucial evidence had been ignored at the behest of the then UPA government. DMK member Tiruchi Siva said he was “hurt” by Mr. Jaitley’s remarks that issues were being raised for publicity.
To this, Mr. Jaitley said, “Every day what is not point of order is raised as point of order knowing fully that you are violating the rule. None of us were born today that we don’t realise each other’s games. We know this noise is being created only because some members want to raise the issue of Samjhauta case. We know that. Don’t provide an alibi. I know they are your ally parties. Don’t provide an alibi.”
Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari later said the records would be examined, but no conclusion could be arrived at till this was done. “Let the Chair do its own work.”
