Karnataka ‘sovereignty’ remark: Congress’s Manickam Tagore accuses PM of breach of parliamentary privilege

Congress leader Manickam Tagore has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of breach of parliamentary privilege for his “Karnataka sovereignty” remark to Sonia Gandhi and urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee of Parliament.

In a letter to the speaker, the Congress whip in Lok Sabha claimed that PM Modi has spread ‘sensitive false information’ among the public.

The Virudhunagar MP alleged that Prime Minister Modi, during his election campaign in Karnataka, indulged in acts of breach of parliamentary privileges under Rule 222 of the Lok Sabha Rules of Procedure.

“The Prime Minister, as the representative of the BJP party in the Karnataka elections, has made false allegations against the Congress against its commitment to protect the unity and sovereignty of the State of Karnataka if it wins the elections.

In his letter to Birla, he said, “The Prime Minister’s remarks misrepresent Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi’s statement that protection of sovereignty by the Congress means plans to separate the state from India.”

Tagore said such a “strong statement” on the part of the prime minister was highly distasteful and would set a wrong precedent for those holding high positions in this country now or in the future. In short the Prime Minister has informed that ‘the Congress indicates that the Congress considers Karnataka to be separate from India’. Therefore, it is appropriate that the Speaker refers the issue to the Committee of Parliamentary Privileges under Rule 222 and allows it to be discussed in the next Lok Sabha session and reprimands the House for seeking clarification from the Prime Minister’s position. him,” said Tagore.

The Congress MP said that keeping in view the seriousness of such “mischievous false representation, I request you to take appropriate action to refer it to the Committee on Privileges and move a motion for breach of privilege in the Lok Sabha.” Prime Minister Modi had accused the top Gandhi leadership of talking about the “sovereignty of Karnataka”, a remark which was tweeted by the Congress party but later retracted saying it was done incorrectly .

Sonia Gandhi never used the word ‘sovereignty’ in her speech on May 6, 2023 in Hubli, Karnataka. Since it is wrongly reported – it is being removed,” the Congress had said after the Election Commission sought clarification. PTI SKC NSD NSD

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)