Youth Congress activists protest against Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for suspending 25 Congress MPs (Press Trust of India)
BJP members have submitted a privilege motion against Youth Congress leaders for "attacking" the office of Speaker by demonstrating outside her residence in protest against her decision to suspend 25 Congress members from the Lok Sabha.
When the matter was raised in the House by several BJP MPs, including Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu who wanted the notice to be sent to the Privileges Committee, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan sounded reluctant but later said she would consider it.
Raising the issue, Kirit Somaiya termed the Youth Congress demonstration outside the Speaker's official residence yesterday as unprecedented and said such an incident has never happened.
BJP chief whip Arjun Ram Meghwal called it "murder of democracy"; saying the Speaker has been accused of being "partisan" and motives were being imputed to her actions.
With Speaker Sumitra Mahajan sounding reluctant, Mr Naidu urged her not to take the issue as "personal" as it was about the "institution" of her office.
He requested her to send the notice to the Privileges Committee.
Ms Mahajan said she would consider it.
The motion was supported by several BJP members including RK Singh.
"It pains if somebody protests against the Speaker outside her residence and threatens to burn her effigy... It is nothing but blackmailing, threatening. This is a very serious issue. It is an assault on the system. Even people outside are aghast. People can disagree with the Speaker. What is the purpose of going to the Speaker's house," Mr Naidu said.
Youth Congress members held a demonstration outside the Speaker's official residence yesterday to protest against her decision to suspend 25 Congress MPs.