Renuka Privilege threat as Rijiju tweets clip on Modi

Proceedings adjourned twice over Renuka row, special status to Andhra

The verbal duel between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhary during the former’s reply on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address has turned into a political slugfest. Amid calls by Congress MPs for an apology from Mr Modi on his Ramayan remark over Renuka Chowdhary’s laughter in Rajya Sabha, Ms Chowdhary on Thursday threatened to file a privilege motion over the issue.

Ms Chowdhury’s decision on the privilege motion came soon after a clipping of Mr Modi’s remark was tweeted by minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju.

“This is highly objectionable and I am going to file a privilege motion ( in Rajya Sabha),” Ms Chowdhury told reporters minutes after Mr Rijiju posted the PM’s video.

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned twice on Thursday first when Congress members created an uproar over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks against party MP Renuka Chowdhury and at noon on the issue of grant of special status to Andhra Pradesh. The continued ruckus created by the Opposition forced Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the House till 2 pm.

No sooner had the House mourned the death of its former member Frida Topno and the listed papers were laid on the table, Congress members were on their feet protesting against Mr Modi’s dig at Ms Choudhury during his reply to the debate on Motion of Thanks on President’s address on

Wednesday.

Mr Naidu chided the members for their “unbecoming” behaviour and asked them to resume their places. “I have no option other than to adjourn the House,” he said, suspending the proceedings till 1200 hours.

As soon as the House reassembled at 12 noon, the issue of grant of special status to Andhra Pradesh was raised by the Opposition. The issue came up after minister of state for science and technology and earth sciences Y. S. Chowdary rose to suggest that since the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act have not been implemented, the matter should be addressed by the finance minister when he replies to the debate on the general Budget.

Mr Chowdary blamed both the Congress and the BJP for the “hasty passage” of the AP Reorganisation Act. “On behalf of the Government of India, I would like to mention here that this House is fully aware on how the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act was passed so unscientifically and unreasonably, for which both the national parties are responsible,” he said.

“In last three- and- half years, our government could not implement certain commitments given on behalf of the Act. My suggestion, if government is willing, is that there are some issues of special category status, bridging of resource gap and building of steel plant,” Mr Chowdary said.

Notwithstanding this, the present deadlock “has to be unlocked, one should talk of cooperative federalism and not be partly cooperative”, he said.

“My suggestion, my request is that on behalf of government, if they can commit that the finance minister while delivering the Budget speech, they can commit to resolve the issues within 15 days,” Mr Chowdary said.