lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Friday sought to put the record straight over the conduct of members in the House when she came down heavily on Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s “hug and wink” act after force-hugging Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his speech during the debate on no-confidence motion even as the BJP moved a privilege notice against him for his “unsubstantiated claims”, especially against the Prime Minister on the Rafale deal.
Terming Rahul’s behaviour as improper, Mahajan said, “PM Narendra Modi was on his seat which commands respect. Winking is against the dignity of Parliament. Rahulji is not my enemy, he is like my son and it is a duty as a mother to correct. Why will I oppose huggingIJ But after hugging, that wink wasn’t proper.”
The members should maintain the decorum in the House, she said.
“Please understand that it is we who have to maintain the dignity of the House and no one from outside will come and do it. We have to also maintain the decorum being a Member of Parliament. I want all of you (Opposition and treasury benches) to live with love and affection,” Mahajan said. Rahul was seen smiling and winking after concluding his speech.
The Speaker also silenced Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi when he tried to speak on this issue saying, “Gaurav beta (son), please sit down. There is still a lot that you have to learn.”
Meanwhile, BJP MP Prahlad Joshi moved a breach of privilege motion against the Congress president saying Rahul has made “unsubstantiated claims against the BJP, particularly against the Prime Minister on Rafale deal.”
A notice by Joshi to the lok Sabha read, “While participating in the discussion, he (Rahul Gandhi) made serious, baseless and wild allegations against the Govt. and particularly against the Prime Minister regarding Rafale Deal. He stated that the Rafale deal was signed during UPA regime but when PM went to France, the cost suddenly shot to Rs 1600crore from Rs 520 crore. He also stated that under pressure from Prime Minister, Nirmala Sithararnan told to lie to the nation. He further alleged that the PM cheated his own army on dealing with China in Doklam issue.”
Joshi further said that the Congress chief alleged that Prime Minister extended all the benefits to 10-20 big selected industrialists.