Activists and civil society members have released a joint statement condemning how Presiding Officer Rama Devi conducted herself on February 4 when Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Mahua Moitra was delivering a speech critical of the government before the Parliament. “Ms Moitra was participating in the motion of thanks on the president’s address to a joint sitting of Parliament when the presiding officer, Rama Devi stopped her and asked her to speak with ‘love’ not ‘anger.’ This, in our view, is a clear attempt to stifle the voice of the political opposition,” said the activists.
Signatories to the statement include crafts activist and designer Laila Tyabji, Aruna Roy from the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, journalist and human rights defender Teesta Setalvad, lyricist Javed Akhtar, actors Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, writer activist Javed Anand, social scientist Rajeev Bhargava and a whole host of academics, journalists, former bureaucrats and civil society members.
Even during the course of the speech, Moitra was interrupted multiple times. “It is the fundamental duty of the presiding officer to not just permit all shades of political opinion but ensure that these are not stifled by brute displays of majoritarianism,” they said, further condemning what transpired after the speech.
“We as vocal citizens of India wish to protest and condemn the subsequent attempts by Speaker Om Birla, to invoke constitutional privilege and threaten action against Ms Moitra when the presiding officer, Ms Rama Devi is in fact responsible for violating the privilege accorded to the Speaker’s chair,” they said, adding, ” It is imperative that all voices and shades of political opinion find dignified space of expression in Indian Parliament.”
The entire statement may be viewed here:
An unseemly row has broken out of Indian Parliament, after the Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra was repeatedly interrupted during her 13-minute speech sharply critical of the state of affairs within India, on February 4. Ms Moitra was participating in the motion of thanks on the president’s address to a joint sitting of Parliament when the presiding officer, Rama Devi stopped her and asked her to speak with ‘love’ not ‘anger.’ This, in our view, is a clear attempt to stifle the voice of the political opposition. Thereafter, the matter was taken to the wider public when Ms Moitra with a huge social media following sharply criticised this attempt to stifle a detailed critique of the current government’s functioning. We as vocal citizens of India wish to protest and condemn the subsequent attempts by Speaker Om Birla, to invoke constitutional privilege and threaten action against Ms Moitra when the presiding officer, Ms Rama Devi is in fact responsible for violating the privilege accorded to the Speaker’s chair. The Speaker (and in this instance, the Presiding officer) is a crucial constitutional post that represents the dignity and power of the House over which he/she presides. It is expected that the holder of this office of high dignity rises above partisan considerations and represents the House in its entirety. It is the fundamental duty of the presiding officer to not just permit all shades of political opinion but ensure that these are not stifled by brute displays of majoritarianism. Unfortunately, since 2014 we are seeing a complete blurring of the contours of necessary constitutional conduct and behaviour. It is imperative that all voices and shades of political opinion find dignified space of expression in Indian Parliament. Signatories: Laila Tyabji, crafts activist and designer Naseeruddin Shah, actor Aruna Roy, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan Prashant Bhushan, senior advocate Rajeev Bhargava, social scientist Rangnath Pathare, writer Purushottam Agrawal, educationist and writer Amitabha Pande, former IAS, writer Pavan Verma, former IFS and politician-writer Shabana Azmi, actor Shoma Chaudhary, senior journalist and writer Shabana Azmi, actor Antara Dev Sen, senior editor Shohini Ghosh, academic and media professional Farah Naqvi, social activist and writer Nandini Sundar, professor of sociology Mukul Keshavan, senior editor and commentator Manisha Priyam, political commentator Shankar Singh, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan Nikhil Dey, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan Vibhuti Patel, senior academic, feminist Javed Akhtar, lyricist, writer, rationalist Javed Anand, writer, activist Teesta Setalvad, journalist, activist |