New Delhi: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s breach of privilege notice was sent by Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. A privilege motion was moved in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly against Sanjay Raut for calling the ‘vidhimandal’ (legislature) a ‘chormandal’ (thieves’ body).
Earlier this month, the Vice President of the Maharashtra Council directed the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader to submit a reply to the breach of privilege notice served against him by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
However, Neelam Gorhe on Saturday said the Rajya Sabha MP’s response was “unsatisfactory”.
Gorhe, speaking in the Council, said that Raut in his reply had raised questions on the composition of the Privileges Committee of the House, its impartiality and functioning.
“Being a senior member of Rajya Sabha, it is not expected that he (Raut) raises questions about the functioning of the Committee of Privileges. So I do not fully agree with his response and I do not find it satisfactory. Therefore I am referring the breach of privilege notice to the Chairman, Rajya Sabha and the Vice President for appropriate action,” he said.
What is row?
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has courted controversy by calling the ruling Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction fake and a ‘chor mandali’ (gang of thieves).
“There is a fake Shiv Sena in the legislature, it is a gang of thieves,” Raut had said during his visit to Kolhapur for ‘Shivgarjan’ and ‘Shivsamvad’ initiatives.
There was widespread criticism of Sanjay Raut’s statement, which irked MPs across party lines. His remarks had also disrupted the proceedings of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly earlier this month. A privilege motion was filed against Raut and the Speaker constituted a committee to investigate the alleged defamatory statement made by Sanjay Raut against the Assembly.
