The Lok Sabha secretariat has sought a reply from Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal on a privilege notice for his alleged “derogatory, defamatory and indecent'' remarks about members of Parliament during an election rally in Ghaziabad last month.
The notice has been served by the Congress MP from Dewas (Madhya Pradesh), Sajjan Singh Verma who quoted newspaper reports to say that Mr. Kejriwal charged MPs with being guilty of “rape, murder and loot'' while addressing a rally on February 25.
“His remarks are defamatory and an assault on democracy,'' the MP said in his notice, seeking punitive action against Mr. Kejriwal.
Mr. Kejriwal said Parliament had 163 members facing charges of heinous offences. “How can you then expect Jan Lokpal Bill to be passed by Parliament? How can you expect reprieve from poverty and corruption?'' he had asked.
Second notice
This is the second privilege notice served on Mr. Kejriwal in the last seven months. He was served a notice in September for his derogatory remarks against MPs during social activist Anna Hazare's agitation at the Ramlila Maidan in August for a strong Lokpal.
On his twitter Mr. Kejriwal asked if the country could be trusted with such politicians. “Did the party high command who gave tickets to such MPs insult Parliament or did I? Or do these 163 MPs insult the temple of democracy by sitting in Parliament or do I by raising the issue.”
He demanded fast-track courts to decide such cases within six months. “Let them sit in Parliament after they have been cleared of all charges.”
