BJP MP demands removal of Shashi Tharoor as parliament panel chief

After privilege notices from both the sides, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday sought the removal of Shashi Tharoor as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology

The Facebook row has turned into a full-fledged war between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.

After privilege notices from both the sides, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday sought the removal of Shashi Tharoor as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology.

Dubey who is a member of the committee in a letter to the speaker Om Birla requested "to invoke Rule 283 with provisions in rules of procedures for removing Shashi Tharoor as chairman of the IT panel".

Dubey alleged that Tharoor had showed "disdain" in summoning Facebook and sending a notice on breach of privilege against him, and alleged that, "he (Tharoor) is not a new architect in creating unnecessary controversies to grind his political ambitions and at the same time targeting my party, even by misusing the parliamentary institutions".

Nishikant Dubey wrote, "Mr Tharoor's tenure has been controversial" and said, "Speaking in Spenserian English with a foreign accent does not give freedom to an individual to disregard our parliamentary institutions".

Earlier on Wednesday both Shashi Tharoor and Nishikant Dubey moved privilege notices against each other on the Facebook row.

Congress leader and Chairman of Parliament's Standing committee on Information Technology Shashi Tharoor gave a notice for breach of privilege against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for his alleged "disparaging" remarks. Nishikant Dubey returned favour and moved a privilege motion against Tharoor as well as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

The Godda MP who is also a member of the same committee remarked, "For the first time have I seen that a Chairman of a Parliamentary Committee has moved privilege against its own fellow member."

He reasoned that accusing BJP of wrongdoing is tantamount to accusing all its MPs of the same. Dubey says Tharoor "questioned the intention, integrity, and honesty of MPs".

This comes after Tharoor wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, mentioning Dubey's 'strong remarks' on Twitter that "the Chairman of the Standing Committee does not have the authority to do anything without discussion of the agenda with its members".

"I sincerely hope that stringent action is taken in this matter so that it serves as a deterrent to similar incidents in future and restores public trust in Parliament," Tharoor said in the letter.

Keep scrolling to read more news

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!