Congress moves privilege motion against PM Modi for his remark on Nehru surname

K.C. Venugopal, in his letter to the Chairman, has cited the Prime Minister’s February 9 speech during the reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in Lok Sabha at discussion on Motion of Thanks on the President’s address during the Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi. File. | Photo Credit: ANI

Congress general secretary and Rajya Sabha member K.C. Venugopal on Friday wrote to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar seeking privilege proceedings against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on why former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s family did not use his surname.

In his notice, Mr. Venugopal mentioned that the comments of the Prime Minister were “distasteful, derogatory and defamatory” against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

The move comes a day after reports that the BJP is exploring the possibility of getting Mr. Gandhi “suspended” if he doesn’t apologise for his “democracy under threat” remarks.

The Prime Minister had made the remarks during his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha on February 9 during the first part of the Budget session.

“I hereby give a notice of question of privilege against the Prime Minister of India under Rule 188 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Council of States (Rajya Sabha) for having cast reflections upon members of Parliament during his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address on February 9, 2023,” Mr. Venugopal said in his notice.

The Congress leader, in his notice, claimed that Mr. Modi’s question on why the Gandhis did not use Nehru as a surname is “preposterous” as the Prime Minister knows very well that the daughter does not take the surname of the father.

“Despite knowing that, he deliberately mocked...The tone and tenor of the remark are insinuating and derogatory in nature. This clearly amounts to casting reflections upon Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi by the Prime Minister, which breaches their privileges and tantamounts to contempt of the House. I seek privilege proceedings against Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, for making derogatory, insulting, distasteful and defamatory remarks against Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Rahul Gandhi which has amounted to a breach of their privileges and also contempt of the House,” the Congress leader said in his notice.