The Trinamool Congress has written to Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, complaining against both Houses of Parliament allowing repeated questions on the law and order situation in West Bengal despite rules stating that members “shall not repeat in substance questions already answered”.
The letters were authored by Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien and Lok Sabha MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay.
Bandyopadhyay cited Rule 41 (xiii) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha, which says a member “shall not repeat in substance questions already answered’’. According to his letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, three questions on political violence in Bengal during the 2019 general elections, have been allowed in the lower house.
Similarly, O’Brien referred to Rule 47 (xiv) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha, informing Chairman Venkaiah Naidu that four questions had been allowed on political violence in Bengal in the current session.
In their separate letters, the TMC leaders wrote, “This is butchering the parliamentary democratic process. Why is the Bengal government being targeted in such a manner? We strongly protest this and request you to kindly look into it.’’
O’Brien also pointed out that 10 advisories have been sent by the Centre to the West Bengal government in as short a span as ten days. Earlier in the day, TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay had made the same statement in the Lok Sabha, claiming that the Bengal government was being unnecessarily harassed for political motives.
The Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had himself objected to repeated statements being made about West Bengal, and had recently reprimanded BJP MPs, asking them not to treat Parliament as if it was the West Bengal Assembly.
In the Rajya Sabha too, House Chairman Venkaiah Naidu has prohibited any reference to state governments who are not present in Parliament to defend themselves.
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