BJP MPs move privilege motion against Rahul Gandhi

Some BJP MPs moved a breach of privilege motion against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha on Friday night.

BJP MPs Sanjay Jaiswal, Nishikant Dubey, PP Chowdhary and Meenakshi Lekhi gave notice, citing "serious breach of privilege and contempt of the House on February 11, 2021", to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla who took it up.

The notice was in response to Gandhi's call for two minutes of silence in the Lower House for the farmers who had lost their lives during the protests against the three contentious farm laws at the end of his speech during a discussion on the Budget on Thursday.

Read: When even British could not stand before farmers of India, then who is Narendra Modi: Rahul Gandhi

Opposition parties' MPs including those from the NCP, DMK and TMC stood while treasury bench members continued to sit.

Speaker Om Birla had objected to it and asked the members to take their seats.

“If you wish to discuss something, give it to me in writing and I will allot time… but allow me to run the House,” Birla had said.

"Everybody has respect for farmers. However, I have a responsibility to the House as per rules and procedure," the Speaker added.

Also read: Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to farmers who died in rally

"For the first time, we saw an MP giving orders to everyone to rise and maintain silence. Some MPs did that. Lok Sabha should take action. Privilege Motion Notice is against Rahul Gandhi who gave orders and all MPs who rose. They insulted the House," BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal said.

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien, on February 4, had stopped midway in his response to the President’s speech for a one-minute silent tribute for the protesting farmers who had died. All the Opposition MPs in the House had stood up with O’Brien for the tribute.

On Monday, Dubey and Chaudhary had also moved a breach of privilege motion against Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra over her remarks against a former chief justice of India in the Lok Sabha on Monday.