Ramesh gives breach of privilege notice against PM over 'Ansari remarks'

Congress chief whip in the Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh has given a notice for moving breach of privilege against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the latter made "unacceptable" and "derogatory" remarks against former Upper House chairman Hamid Ansari during his recent speech in the Lok Sabha.

In his letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, Ramesh said; "I wish to bring to your notice a serious incident of breach of privilege and contempt of the House on the part of the Prime Minister of India. On July 2, 2024, Prime Minister, while replying to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in Lok Sabha inter alia stated: 'No matter how many numbers they claim, when we came in 2014, our strength in the Rajya Sabha was very low, and the Chair's inclination was somewhat on the other side'. Notwithstanding the fact that the prime minister did not specifically take the name of Ansari, needless to state that these derogatory remarks were attributed to the former chairman, Rajya Sabha. The accusation attributed to Dr Hamid Ansari of 'leaning' towards the Opposition made by the Prime Minister is wholly unacceptable and grossly derogatory to say the least, apart from being completely false."