New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Thursday failed to transact any business as confrontation between ruling and opposition sides intensified with a Bharatiya Janata Party member moving a Privilege Motion against Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, over his comments in a Facebook post.
As soon as the House met after the adjournment till noon, parliamentarians from the Congress and other parties were up on their feet, demanding action from the government over their demand for the resignation of the BJP leaders.
In the ruckus, BJP's Prahlad Joshi spoke on his privilege motion against Vadra though his voice was largely inaudible.
Papers were laid in the House amid din as the Speaker asked members not to show placards.
Later, Joshi told a news agency that he had moved the privilege motion against Vadra.
"In his (Vadra's) Facebook post, he has belittled the image of Parliament. That's why I have moved the privilege motion against him," said Joshi, BJP parliamentarian from Dharwad in Karnataka.
Privilege Motion
A Privilege Motion is a Parliamentary motion that is granted precedence over ordinary business because it concerns matters of great importance or urgency.
A Member of Parliament may, with the consent of the Speaker, raise a question involving a breach of privilege either of a member or of the House or of a Committee thereof.
A Member wishing to raise a question of privilege shall give notice in writing to the Secretary-General on the day the question is proposed to be raised.
If the Speaker gives consent under rule 222 and holds that the matter proposed to be discussed is in order, he shall call the member concerned, who shall rise in his place and, while asking for leave to raise the question of privilege, make a short statement.
If leave under rule 225 is granted, the House may consider the question and come to a decision or refer it to a Committee of Privileges on a motion made either by the member who has raised the question of privilege or by any other member.
Six important motions in Indian Parliament
The six most important motions in the Indian Parliament are: Adjournment Motion, Privilege Motion, Censure Motion, No-confidence Motion, Calling Attention Motion and Cut Motion.
Adjournment Motion:
A motion for an adjournment of the business of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance may be made with the consent of the Speaker.
Privilege Motion:
A member may, with the consent of the Speaker, raise a question involving a breach of privilege either of a member or of the House or of a Committee thereof.
Censure Motion:
A motion which seeks to censure the government for its `lapse`. The Opposition generally expresses its lack of confidence in the Council of Ministers through a censure motion and Government is bound to find time for its discussion.
No-Confidence Motion:
A motion moved by a member to express lack of confidence in the government for any reason. If the motion is debated upon and at the conclusion, a vote of confidence is sought by the government, and if it fails to get the required majority of votes, it has to resign from Office.
Calling Attention Motion:
A member may, with the previous permission of the Speaker, call the attention of a Minister to any matter of urgent public importance and the Minister may make a brief statement or ask for time to make a statement at a later hour or date.
Cut Motion:
A motion that seeks reduction in the amount of a demand presented by the government is known as a Cut Motion. These are admitted at the Speaker’s discretion. There are three types of Cut Motion - Disapproval of Policy Cut, Economy Cut, Token Cut.
