Zeenew Bureau
New Delhi: Amid growing suspicion that Team Anna is being deliberately targeted by those in corridors of power, two more core members of the team - senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan and activist Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday were slapped with breach of privilege notices for their remarks against Parliamentarians.
Both Bhushan and Kejriwal were accused of using “derogatory words” against MPs and have been asked to file a reply.
Reacting to the notice Bhushan said that the notice was "totally unjustified".
"I have received the notice and will respond to it. I stand by my statement and don't think it amounts to breach of privilege," Bhushan said.
"If speaking the truth in public interest is treated to be a breach of privilege by Parliament or its members, then I think the time has come to re-examine as to what constitutes parliamentary privilege," he said.
It is being alleged that Bhushan, while speaking to a TV channel during Anna Hazare fast at Ramlila Grounds, had said that the MPs charge money for making and passing laws in Parliament.
Activist Kejriwal confirmed that a privilege notice has been received at his residence in Ghaziabad. "Yes, I have received notice from parliament. I have not read it yet, but my mother called to inform me that I have received the notice."
Kejriwal on Thursday was issued an Income Tax notice which asked him to repay more than Rs 9 lakh of default dues. The activist had hit back by saying the notice had not been sent by the department but its "political bosses".
Earlier former top cop and another important member of Team Anna along with Bollywood actor Om Puri were also issued privilege notice by Parliament for mocking at and passing caustic comments against lawmakers.
Puri had apologised for calling MPs "anpadh" (uneducated) and "nalayak" (incompetent) at the Ramlila Maidan during Hazare's fast. Bedi expressed no regrets for poking fun at politicians who she alleged don "several masks" to deceive people.
Bedi maintained that whatever she had said was in reference to a situation, where it was needed to be said. "The truth has to be said. I didn't have any other option as we didn't know whether we would have a resolution," she said.
"If I get an opportunity I will go before the Committee and will show a bigger mirror to Parliament," she had said.
First Published: Saturday, September 03, 2011, 19:23