NEW DELHI: Congress leader Madhusudan Mistry has moved a notice of breach of privilege against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley alleging that remarks by him showed Rajya Sabha in a poor light.
Sources in Parliament said Mistry today submitted a notice of breach of privilege to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari against Jaitley, the Leader of Rajya Sabha.
Mistry, a Congress General Secretary, referred to Jaitley’s remarks here that a directly-elected House (Lok Sabha) is repeatedly questioned by the indirectly-elected House, that is Rajya Sabha.
Mistry claimed that the Finance Minister made these remarks on May 15 while responding to a question on Opposition criticism over bypassing of legislative agenda by terming a Bill as a money Bill.
“He (Jaitley) cited Article 110 of the Constitution, which defines a money Bill, and said it is a serious question in a parliamentary democracy wherein wisdom of directly-elected House is questioned repeatedly by the indirectly-elected House,” sources quoted Mistry as saying in the notice.
Through such remarks, Jaitley has “seriously, deliberately and willfully” questioned the authority of the Upper House and has lowered its dignity, alleged Mistry.
He said that since the remarks were reported after the House was adjourned sine die, he is moving the notice now ahead of the commencement of the Monsoon session of Parliament on July 21.
He requested the Chair to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee.–PTI
