Parliament seized by placard war

Amidst uproar in both the Houses of Parliament on Thursday, the Lok Sabha admitted a privilege motion against Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Parliamentarians on Facebook.

However, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan’s warning of disciplinary action went unheeded on Thursday, by both the Opposition and ruling BJP benches, who indulged in a placard war. This led to the House being adjourned for the day. Amid the din, BJP members Arjun Ram Meghwal and Prahlad Joshi moved the privilege motion against Vadra.

While the Congress placards targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the alleged corruption by his Cabinet Minister (Sushma Swaraj) and two Chief Ministers (Vasundhara Raje and Shivraj Singh Chouhan), the BJP members held posters targeting the Congress and Vadra.

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Bade Modi meherbaan, to chhote Modi pahalwan ,” “Why is the PM silent?” read some Congress placards. The BJP posters said: “C for Congress, C for Corruption,” and “ Ulta chor kotwaal ko daante, kisan ki zameen damaad ko baante ” (The thief is accusing the protector of law, while gifting farmers’ land to son-in-law).

Vadra reportedly posted on Facebook: “Parliament begins and so do their petty diversion political tactics…People of India are not fooled. Regret to see India led by such so-called leaders.”

Meghwal’s notice says this is “a clear cut case of breach of privilege under rule 220.” Later, emerging from the House, senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily attacked the BJP government for “bankruptcy and poor management”. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu hit back at the Congress, saying: “They are not allowing democracy to function.”