‘Damous’ Claims Made Against Me Have The Right To Answer In Parliament To ‘Unfair’ Charges: Rahul Gandhi

In a letter to Lok Sabha Chairman Om Birla, Gandhi invoked Rule 357 which allows for “personal explanations” and also cited the example of BJP MP and later minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who invoked the Rule to give an explanation about comments. made by Jyotiraditya Scindia. in relation to him in Parliament “I am making such a request again. I am seeking this permission under the conventions of parliamentary practice, the constitutional rules of natural justice and Rule 357 of the Rules of Business Conduct and Procedure in Lok Sabha,” he said in his letter to the President.

Citing Rule 357, Gandhi said: “A member may, with the permission of the Speaker, make a personal explanation even if there is no question before the House, but in this case no debatable matter can be brought up and no debate will arise. The congress leader said that members of the ruling regime have made “libelous and defamatory statements against me” both inside and outside Parliament.

“As a result of these allegations, and the rules invoked by these individuals, it is appropriate that they kindly grant me the right to respond as contained in Rule 357 allowing ‘personal explanations,'” he said.

He also stated that there are several examples available on the Parliament Digital Library that show that this right is not limited to responding to statements made within Parliament but also extends to complaints made in the public domain.

“Finally, Parliament, like any other institution, is bound by the Rules of Natural Justice contained in articles 14 and 21 of our Constitution. They are a guarantee against administrative arbitrariness and ensure that everyone has the right to be heard in the case that concerns them.

“Surely, you would agree that Parliament of all institutions cannot abdicate the responsibility to respect this right when it is not in the best interests of the ruling regime.

“I hope the above satisfies your query and allows me the right to reply in the Lok Sabha at the earliest,” Gandhi told the spokesman, adding that he will be in Karnataka and Kerala on March 20-21.

Gandhi’s comments on democracy have sparked a massive political dispute, with the BJP accusing him of slandering India on foreign soil and seeking foreign interventions and Congress fighting back, citing instances of Prime Minister Narenra Modi raising domestic policy abroad.

During his interactions in the UK recently, Gandhi alleged that the structures of Indian democracy are under attack and that there is a “wide-scale attack” on the country’s institutions.

Congress has said that Gandhi wants to speak in the Lok Sabha to clarify the comments.

The BJP accuses the congress leader of seeking foreign intervention and has been paralyzing both houses of Parliament while demanding an apology from him.

Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha they have not been able to do any major business so far due to deadlock during the second part of Parliament’s budget session which began on March 13.