Parliament issues breach of privilege noticesagainst Om Puri and Kiran Bedi

Agencies

New Delhi, 29 August 2011:  Members in both Houses of Parliament have given Privilege notices against actor Om Puri and civil rights activist Kiran Bedi for using "derogatory and defamatory" language against politicians and the matter is under consideration of the Chair. 

 

In the Rajya Sabha, a member also attacked lawyer activist Prashant Bhushan for reportedly saying that legislations are passed by Parliament after taking bribe. 

 

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Monday said in the House that notices for moving a Privilege Motion against Mr. Puri and Ms. Bedi for "allegedly" using "derogatory and defamatory" language against politicians have been received. 

 

Ms. Kumar said she had received notices from P L Punia, Jagadambika Pal, Ramashankar Rajbhar, Lalchand Kataria, Mirza Aslam Beg, Praveen Aron and Shailendra Kumar. 

 

"The matter is under my consideration," the Speaker said. 

During Anna Hazare’s agitation at Ramlila grounds on the Lokpal issue, Mr. Puri and Ms. Bedi had allegedly targeted politicians and used derogatory and defamatory language against them. 

 

In the Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan told agitated members that the privilege notices given by Ramgopal Yadav (SP) and Md Adeeb (Ind) were under consideration of the Chairman. 

 

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Upper House, Mr. Yadav said that the film actor dubbed Parliamentarians as "thieves" and "incompetent" while speaking from the stage of Mr. Hazare on August 26. 

 

He said such statements by the actor, is a privilege of MPs and requested the Chair to refer his notice to the Privilege Committee amid thumping of desks by members from all parties.