Members from at least six opposition parties on Friday moved a notice alleging breach of privilege and contempt of the Rajya Sabha against Lok Sabha member of the Biju Janata Dal, Baijayant Jay Panda for his write up calling for 'reducing' the power of the Upper House.
In the notice to chairman Hamid Ansari, Rajya Sabha MPs Mohsina Kidwai from the Congress, K C Tyagi from the Janata Dal-United, Naresh Agrawal from the Samajwadi Party, T K Rangarajan from the Communist Party of India -Marxist, D Raja from the Communist Party of India and Derek O’Brien from the Trinamool Congress held that the views expressed by Panda constitute ‘breach of privilege’ and 'contempt of the House'.
They took strong objection to Panda's write-ups in some newspapers in which he said that the 'reforms must reduce the Rajya Sabha's power to block the popular mandate...' and favouring a 'rethink on veto power of the Rajya Sabha'.
The members said that if any individual or authority violates or disregards any of the privileges, powers and immunities of House, he may be punished for breach of privilege and contempt of House, the sources said.
The members have moved the privilege notice at a time when a number of bills by the ruling coalition are stuck in the Rajya Sabha with a combined Opposition cornering it on many issues.
The issue of the Rajya Sabha 'blocking' bills has been raised by others as well, including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the past.
The government has been reaching out to parties to take them on board in the Rajya Sabha for the passage of crucial legislations like the Goods and Services Tax.
When contacted, JD-U general secretary Tyagi said, "We have moved a resolution against Panda as we feel his remarks in his write-ups amount to contempt of the House."
Image: BSP chief Mayawati, JD-U chief Sharad Yadav, SP leaders Ram Gopal Yadav and Naresh Agrawal, CPI leader D Raja and other Opposition MPs in Rajya Sabha on Friday. Photograph: PTI Photo