Alleged breach of parliamentary rules: Complaints against AAP’s Raghav Chadha referred to Privileges Committee. Accusations of unauthorized inclusion of names prompt investigation. AAP defends Chadha against alleged political motives.
Accusations and Committee Referral
Rajya Sabha Chairman, Jagdeep Dhankhar, has taken action regarding the accusations made by four Members of Parliament against AAP MP Raghav Chadha. They alleged that Chadha proposed their names for a House panel without their consent, violating the established rules. The complaints have been forwarded to the privileges committee for thorough examination and investigation.
Complaints and Rule Violation Allegations
MPs Sasmit Patra, S Phangnon Konyak, M Thambidurai, and Narhari Amin lodged complaints against Raghav Chadha. They claimed that Chadha, in a motion on August 7, included their names in a manner that contravened the “Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.”
Chadha’s Motion and Inclusion of Names
Raghav Chadha suggested the formation of a Select Committee to assess the ‘Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023.’ He incorporated the names of the four MPs in question.
Referral to Privileges Committee
Considering the circumstances, the Rajya Sabha Chairman invoked Rule 203 from the “Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha).” He directed the matter to be investigated by the Committee of Privileges. The objective is to thoroughly examine the issue and report accordingly.
AAP’s Defense and Allegations
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has stood in defense of Raghav Chadha, asserting his innocence. They claimed that the government’s motivation behind this move is to terminate Chadha’s Rajya Sabha membership due to his vocal criticism of the BJP.
AAP’s Perspective
AAP leader Sanjay Singh clarified the situation. He emphasized that Chadha had not violated any rules and had acted within his rights as a member. He pointed out that suggesting names for a Select Committee is a standard practice, and no formal signatures are required for such proposals.
Chadha’s Notice and Bill Consideration
Chadha formally notified the Rajya Sabha Secretariat about his intention to propose an amendment to the ‘Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023.’ This amendment was meant to refer the bill, as approved by the Lok Sabha, to a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha, including the four MPs who later raised objections. The bill was discussed on August 7 and subsequently passed in the Upper House.