Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Sitasaran Sharma on Monday accepted and referred to the Privileges Committee a breach of privilege motion against Congress member Jitu Patwari for his alleged unparliamentary comments against the media.
Earlier, the House witnessed a spate of allegations and counter-allegations leveled by ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Opposition members leading to two adjournments.
Moving the motion during the Zero Hour, BJP member Yashpal Singh Sisodiya said,
"Publicity of welfare schemes is carried out by the regime. Patwari made an irresponsible comment against media."
He further said that several other members supported the motion. Mentioning that the comment was expunged from proceedings, Ramniwas Rawat of the Congress said that his party respected the media. Nonetheless, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Gopal Bhargava and Home Minister Bhupendra Singh pointed out that the proceedings are being made viral despite being expunged. Mishra stuck on his demand for termination of Patwari's membership.
Amid the din, the Speaker adjourned the House for 10 minutes.
When the House re-assembled, Forest Minister Gaurishankar Shejwar said that Patwari has indulged in contempt of the House by using the floor to suppress the media for his own interests.
Sunderlal Tiwari (Cong) raised a point of order but got irritated and addressed ruling party members in unparliamentary manner when he could not get an opportunity to speak amid continuous spate of allegations from the Treasury benches. The Chair cautioned him against unparliamentary behaviour.
Amid the din, Dr Sharma adjourned the House again. As the House re-assembled, Mishra said that Patwari has been trying to bring down the dignity of the House since a long time. Bhargava said that Assembly reporting has been affected and the media across the country has been impacted as a result of Patwari's query concerning advertisements issued to the media.
Singh said that the motion has been moved along with facts and should be accepted.
Rawat cited certain rules to stress that the matter did not come under the breach of privilege.
As noisy scenes and heated exchanges continued, the Speaker referred the motion to the Privilege Committee.