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Rajya Sabha : PM can't be gagged against speaking on corruption, says Jaitley

by IBNS 10 May 2016, 10:07 am

New Delhi, May 10 (IBNS) Hitting back the Congress that mounted offensive over Narendra Modi's remarks on the AgustaWestland chopper scam, the government on Tuesday said the Prime Minister can not be gagged against speaking on corruption.

“Prime Minister is entitled to speak on corruption” both inside and outside the House and he cannot be “gagged”, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in the Rajya Sabha.

His remark came  after a Congress member said he has moved a breach of privilege motion against Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar over PM’s remarks at an election rally on the AgustaWestland issue.

Congress lawmaker Shantaram Naik  said he has moved a breach of privilege notice against the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister because of “lies” told outside the House about UPA leaders taking money in the chopper deal.

Jaitley, the Leader of the House, said,  “Since when has an election speech by one politician against another outside the House started to be construed as breach of privilege”.

He said political  speech outside by one politician against another is for “publicity” like the Congress members have been doing in front of media,  he said.

“The Prime Minister is entitled to speak on corruption” both inside and outside the House and he cannot be “gagged”, Jaitley said.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked  Naik to make a zero hour submission as per the notice he had given and not to raise any other issue like breach of privilege notice.