JOIN USSeveral MPs have given privilege notices against key members of Team Anna — Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Prashant Bhushan — besides Puri in Parliament with majority of them are from the ruling Congress. The matter is under consideration of the Chair of both the Houses.
While Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar received privilege notices against Puri and Bedi for allegedly using “derogatory and defamatory” words against MPs and “casting reflections on the House”, Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari received notices against Kejriwal and Bhushan apart from Bedi and Puri. “The matter is under my consideration,” said the Lok Sabha speaker.
Notices were given by Ramashankar Rajbhar (BSP), Praveen Singh Aron (Congress), Jagdambika Pal (Congress), Dr Vinay Kumar Pandey, P L Punia (Congress), Dr Mirza Mehboob Beg (J&K National Conference), Harsh Vardhan (Congress), Kamal Kishor (Congress) and Shailendra Kumar (SP), she added.
In the Rajya Sabha, privilege notices were given by Ramgopal Yadav (SP) and Md Adeeb (Independent), Sabir Ali (LJP) and Jesudasu Seelam (Congress).
Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan said the matter was under consideration of the Chairman of the Upper House.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Yadav said Puri dubbed parliamentarians as “thieves” and “incompetent” while speaking from the stage during Anna Hazare’s fast on August 26. He requested the Chair to refer his notice to the Privilege Committee amid thumping of desks by the members from all the parties.
Md Adeeb said Bedi had attacked the MPs on three consecutive days from August 24. He said lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan had told a news channel that “bills are passed in Parliament by taking bribe.”
Meanwhile, Puri regretted making such remarks and said the choice of words was inappropriate. He accepted that he should have used appropriate language for the description of the political class.
“I respect Parliament and the costitutional body. I am very proud to be an Indian. It was wrong on my part to use such terms. I wasn’t drunk, I was just emotionally charged, such things do come from mouth. Even our politicians at times, in a fit of anger, use such words,” he said.
“I would love to be there (in Parliament) to explain my emotions... the forum which leaders like Sardar Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru have been a part of. If they (MPs) are still angry with me, I will take whatever punishment they give me,” the 60-year old actor added.
Bedi also has said her action on Friday mocking the MPs went against her grain but she did not mean to hurt anybody. She, however, refused to comment on the privilege notice.