BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri skips Lok Sabha privilege panel's summons

BJP Lok Sabha member Ramesh Bidhuri on Tuesday skipped a summons of the Lok Sabha privileges committee. Bidhuri was summoned by the panel for communal slurs in the House against a colleague during the inaugural session of the new Parliament building. The privileges committee had wanted to collect oral evidence from him following a complaint by BSP MP Danish Ali and several other MPs against him and Ali for "alleged improper conduct during discussion on Chandrayaan-3 mission in the House".

Bidhuri cited 'prior engagement' for not appearing before the committee, according to a person aware of the development. The privileges committee issues summons several days in advance usually. The committee has the power to summon MPs or any other persons and refusal to appear before the panel can be treated as contempt of the House.

After the incident in the Lok Sabha, several Opposition MPs had demanded action against Bidhuri. BJP MPs, however, alleged later that Ali 'incited' Bidhuri to make communal slurs which were expunged from House records.