LS Speaker says no words banned in Parl but members should maintain decorum
Opposition up in arms against government
NEW DELHI: Amid a row over a new list of ‘unparliamentary’ expressions, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday asserted that no word is banned from use in Parliament but only expunged on the basis of context and all members are free to express their views while maintaining decorum of the House.
Earlier on Thursday, the Opposition went straight for the government’s jugular over the “gag order” on using certain words in Parliament, insisting indignantly every expression used by them to describe how the BJP was destroying India has now been declared unparliamentary. The Opposition was brimming with anger after a new booklet by the Lok Sabha Secretariat said on Wednesday the use of terms like ‘jumlajeevi’, ‘baal buddhi’, ‘Covid spreader’, ‘Snoopgate’ and even commonly used words like ‘ashamed’, ‘abused, ‘betrayed’, ‘corrupt’, ‘drama’, ‘hypocrisy’ and ‘incompetent’ will henceforth be considered unparliamentary in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi derisively termed the compilation the “New Dictionary for New India”.
“Words used in discussion and debates which correctly describe the PM’s handling of the government, now banned from being spoken.”
“Example of an unparliamentary sentence: ‘Jumlajeevi Tanashah shed
Crocodile Tears when his lies and incompetence were exposed’,” he said.
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien showed even greater belligerence, declaring he will use those words and dared the government to act against him. “Session begins in a few days. GAG ORDER ISSUED ON MPs.”
“Now, we will not be allowed to use these basic words while delivering a speech in #Parliament :...