After the political fracas from Lok Sabha over the Ramesh Bidhuri-Danish Ali row, now a controversy has erupted in Rajya Sabha as political sloganeering allegedly happened in the visitors gallery soon after the “Women Reservation Bill” was passed in the night of Thursday which in complete violation of rules and regulations of the visitors manual of the Parliament.
This took place where even ‘whispering’ is not allowed by the guarding marshals at every two row of seatings.
It might be noted that during the two days of Parliament proceedings women visitors including female artists and actress were in full occupancy in both the house-Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha- to witness the introduction, discussion and then the passage of the historic women reservation bill as known as Nari Shakti Vandan Vidhiniyam.
Sources said female visitors including college and school going students from neighbouring states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh visited Parliament to witness the proceedings. RÃ jya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi has written to Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar that a group of people sitting in the Visitor’s Gallery was heard sloganeering, creating a ruckus in the precincts of the House.
“The incident in question not only caused a commotion but also raised serious questions about the enforcement of rules and regulations within the esteemed House. I write to you with grave concern and deep disappointment regarding the shocking incident that unfolded in the Rajya Sabha on September 21, 2023, during the Special Session,” Chaturvedi said in her letter a copy of which is with The Pioneer.
A senior Parliament official said stringent security measures are followed and marshals are deployed to restrict the visitors from doing any activities, talking etc.
“This incident occurred in clear violation of Rule 264, which explicitly outlines the conduct expected of individuals in the Visitor’s Gallery during parliamentary sessions,” official said. As per the rules and conduct of business proposition in the Parliament, Rule 264 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Rajya Sabha lays out the regulations for visitors.
“Admission to Visitors’ Galleries of Rajya Sabha is regulated by the regulations made in pursuance of Rule 264 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Rajya Sabha. Under the regulations, a member can apply for a visitor’s card for a person who is known to him personally or in select cases, for those who have been introduced to the member by a person who is personally known to him. It is in the latter class of cases that members are to exercise utmost care. Members are advised to bear in mind that they are responsible for any untoward incident or undesirable thing happening in the galleries as a result of anything done by holders of cards issued at the request of such members.