NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha Opposition leader and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday asked a pointed question to Deputy Chairman Harivansh as to who runs the House, he “or Home Minister who deployed Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel for two days last week to threaten the agitated Opposition MPs.”
He was reiterating the charge of the CISF personnel entering the Rajya Sabha that he claimed in a letter to Harivansh, who decried the letter to him released to the media and asserted that the personnel deployed were not from the CISF but from the Parliamentary Security Service (PSS) under his discipline.
“I want to clarify that only the Parliament Security Service can enter the House when needed. No CISF personnel were involved,” the Deputy Chairman said in the House. Loud exchange erupted between the opposition benches and the Chair.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiran Rijiju decried Kharge for the misleading charge as if the militia has taken over the Rajya Sabha and wanted action against him.
Kharge asserted that “we are protesting in a democratic way and we will continue to do so. That is our right.”
Deputy chairman Harivansh was at his best quoting various authorities, including Jawaharlal Nehru, on discipline was restored in the wake of the unruly scenes. He also rejected all notices under Rule 267, asserting that there were matters that are sub-judice and members raised the issues “casually”.
He also cited remarks from previous Chairpersons to say that the Election Commission of India is not under the purview of Parliament and matters sub-judice can not be discussed in the House.
Opposition resorted to loud protests as the Chair continued his remarks. The deputy chairman also criticised the opposition for protests inside the House and not allowing members to speak. He said the marshals were called by him in the House to allow the members speak.
