Mahua Moitra, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, criticized the Rajya Sabha’s recent circular, which said that protests, dharnas, fasts, and religious rituals might no longer be performed inside the grounds of Parliament House, and asked, “Why not simply remove Gandhiji’s statue from the premises? In addition, strike out Constitutional Article 19(1a).
It should be mentioned that all Indian citizens have the right to freedom of speech and expression, as stated in Article 19(1a) of the Indian Constitution.
The Parliament said in a bulletin released Thursday before the Monsoon session that the House’s premises cannot be used for any protest, dharna, strike, fast, or religious celebration.
Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody’s directive said, “Members cannot utilize the premises of Parliament House for any protest, dharna, strike, fast, or for the purpose of conducting any religious function.”
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Before responding to the directive, AICC General Secretary Jairam Ramesh also did. Jairam Ramesh, a senior in Congress, was the first to respond to the directive. Jairam Ramesh uploaded the circular on Twitter with the title, “Vishguru’s new volley – D(h)arna Mana Hai!”
Days before, a massive scandal broke as Parliament released a list of terms “unparliamentary.” Rahul Gandhi, a prominent member of the Congress, called the list of “unparliamentary” words the “New Dictionary for New India” and attacked the government of India as a whole.
Derek O’Brien of Trinamool, on the other hand, vowed to use such phrases and challenged the government to take action against him.
